Morotai Friarbird

Philemon fuscicapillus

A large gray-brown honeyeater with a long, powerful dagger-shaped bill and pink bare skin around the eye. Paler on the underparts. Singles or pairs inhabit canopy of forest, forest edge, and plantations in the lowlands. Similar to the entirely brown Halmahera Oriole by the bare skin around the eye. Bill shape also different, with a sharper, finer point to the bill on the friarbird. Gives a fluty, oriole-like song with repetitive “chewit-woow” phrases. Also gives a harsh “ker” alarm note.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Philemon fuscicapillus
Authority
(Wallace, 1862)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Meliphagidae
Genus
Philemon

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

White-tipped Dove

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi

Plump, pale, ground-dwelling dove with pink legs. Widespread and common throughout Middle and South America, from Texas to Argentina. Namesake white tips on outer tail feathers more extensive than other closely related species. Paler than other relatives such as Gray-chested or Gray-headed Doves, especially on the neck and belly, with less contrasting gray or rufous tones. Found in a variety of wooded habitats; more likely to be found in disturbed or scrubby areas than congeners, but also occurs within mature forest. Occasionally visits bird feeders, but otherwise shy and difficult to see well. Listen for low cooing song, starting with a short introductory hoot followed by a longer hollow note.

Pollen's Vanga

Pollen's Vanga

Xenopirostris polleni

Large, black-hooded, big-billed vanga. Males are white below, while females are pale rufous. Madagascar endemic that is found locally in eastern rainforest. Can be found solo or in pairs, sometimes in flocks with other vangas. Most common vocalizations are a sharp, rising whistle and a “chi-che-che” scold. Separated from Van Dam’s and Lafresnaye’s Vangas by range. Separated from Madagascar Cuckooshrike and Tylas Vanga by much larger bill. Unlike Madagascar Cuckooshrike, never shows gray underparts. 

Common Scimitarbill

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

An elongated matte-black bird with black legs and a slender, strongly-decurved black bill. Females and juveniles are browner on the front. In flight it has white tail tips and a single band of white towards the end of the wing. Avoids forest; singles or pairs are found in arid and broadleaved woodland, where they are found clambering around on trunks, probing for invertebrates, and often joining mixed-species flocks. It is most easily detected by its plaintive, whistled, three-noted “wheeep, wheeep, wheeep” call. The very similar Black Scimitarbill differs from tby having a shorter, less decurved bill and a shorter tail. Abyssinian Scimitarbill has an orange bill. Woodhoopoes are larger, with chunkier reddish bill, more social habits, and glossy iridescent plumage.

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