Atiu Swiftlet
Aerodramus sawtelli
A small, mostly brownish swiftlet. Most obvious feature is a pale gray throat contrasting with a darker brownish belly. Commonly found over a variety of natural and non-natural habitats. Similar to Polynesian Swiftlet, but proportionately shorter-tailed with much more contrasting plumage, including paler underparts and a darker rump. Voice commonly consists of weak chirping and twittering.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Aerodramus sawtelli
- Authority
- (Holyoak, 1974)
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Apodidae
- Genus
- Aerodramus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Cream-throated White-eye
Zosterops atriceps
A tiny warbler-like songbird with a pale eye-ring. Greenish above and grayish-white below with a yellow undertail and variable amounts of black on the front of the head. Singles, pairs, or groups inhabit forest, edge, and cultivated areas in lowlands and hills. Confined to Halmahera, Obi, and Bacan. Separated from Warbling White-eye by whitish or gray underparts. Gives a high-pitched twittering song, characteristic of white-eyes.
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Leucosticte tephrocotis
The most widespread rosy-finch. Body is the color of milk chocolate. Look for pink highlights in the wings, tail and belly. Several different populations; some have gray wrapping around the back of the head only above the eye, others have entirely gray cheek. Breeds at the highest elevations; descends to lower elevations in winter. Often in mixed flocks in winter with other rosy-finches. Feeds on seeds and insects. Look for them foraging on alpine snowfields. Visits feeders, primarily in winter.
Black-throated Thistletail
Asthenes harterti
Small, round, long-tailed canastero of dense understory in upper humid montane forest along the east slope of the Andes in central and NW Bolivia. Fairly common throughout range, and very inquisitive. Black throat, plump figure,and long thin raggedy tail distinctive in range. Song a fast, accelerating series of high squeaks.
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