Papuan Babbler

Garritornis isidorei

A fairly large bird of lowland forest midstory. Rusty brown with a long tail and long, curved, yellow bill. Moves in noisy flocks searching for insects in tangles, sometimes mixing with other species including Black Cicadabird and Rusty Pitohui. Similar to the two aforementioned species, but Papuan Babbler has a longer bill. Voice, loud downward, repeated whistle “weeuuuu!” mixed with harsh rasping and chattering calls.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Garritornis isidorei
Authority
(Lesson, RP, 1827)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Vangidae
Genus
Garritornis

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Serra Antwren

Serra Antwren

Formicivora serrana

Small, strikingly-plumaged antbird with a long tail and a very restricted range. Inhabits the understory of low stature or regenerating forests, forest edges, scrub, and abandoned plantations where it is very active and occasionally joins mixed-species flocks. Much plumage variation, with coastal males near Rio de Janeiro (formerly split as Restinga Antwren) being almost uniformly sooty-black with only slightly grayer back and spotted white wingbars. Two more northerly subspecies vary between rufous-brown and dark gray above, but both are black below with a bold white eyebrow and white wing spots. In all subspecies, females are pale whitish below and brown above with a bold white eyebrow. Male song is a monotonous series of harsh chip notes; female gives nasal squeaks.

Mayan Antthrush

Mayan Antthrush

Formicarius moniliger

Elusive inhabitant of humid tropical lowlands and foothills from Veracruz to Honduras. Dark brown and gray overall with pale bluish eyering, darker throat, and rusty rump. Walks jerkily like a small chicken (not like a thrush) on the shady forest floor, holding its tail cocked and tossing leaves with its bill. Can be very difficult to see. Listen for distinctive loud series of piping whistles that drops in pitch.

Southern Scrub-Robin

Southern Scrub-Robin

Drymodes brunneopygia

Long-legged songbird found in semi-arid parts of southern Australia. Grayish above, paler gray below, with faint wingbars and long tail, often flicked upward. Very subtle dark mark through the eye and cheek. Usually seen running around on the ground in open woodland, although male also sings from higher perches. Main call is a repeated three-note rising whistle, "chip-dee-deee," but also makes rough, buzzy alarm calls.

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