Philippine Drongo-Cuckoo
Surniculus velutinus
A slender, medium-sized bird of lowland and foothill forest. Entirely black with glossiness in the wing and in the slightly flared tail. Forages for insects in the forest canopy. Resembles Balicassiao and Hair-crested Drongos, but smaller, with a thinner bill and no fork in the tail. Song is a steadily rising series of whistled notes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Surniculus velutinus
- Authority
- Sharpe, 1877
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Genus
- Surniculus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Large-billed Tern
Phaetusa simplex
Unmistakable large noisy tern, with a long, thick yellow bill, black crown, three-toned wings (black outer wing, pale middle, and gray inner wing), and a gray tail. Juveniles have a browner crown and wings. Found along large rivers and lakes and seasonally on the coast.
Crested Black-Tyrant
Knipolegus lophotes
Large flycatcher found in grasslands and savannas with scattered trees. Unmistakable by its uniform black plumage and long thin crest; sexes similar. In flight shows a white wing patch. Usually silent, but the song is sharp and nasal “djew-pew.”
Cassin's Vireo
Vireo cassinii
Fairly dull vireo, intermediate between Blue-headed and Plumbeous. Grayish-olive overall, but with yellowish flanks and greenish back. Note white spectacles contrasting with gray head and two whitish wingbars. Breeds in mixed coniferous forests, especially in mountainous areas; winters in Mexico. Often separable from Blue-headed and Plumbeous Vireos by range, but can overlap during migration and winter. Cassin's is less contrasty than Blue-headed, especially between the gray face and whitish throat, and the greenish back blends into the nape and crown. Some birds are best left unidentified.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.