Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver
Plocepasser superciliosus
A large weaver with bold and distinctive patterning. Note the mostly rufous head, the white throat and eyebrow, and the black moustache. The two white wingbars are especially obvious in flight. Found locally in a variety of woodland and savanna habitats, often in small flocks, though typically inconspicuous. Somewhat similar to White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, but easily separated by the rufous on the head and back and the more complex facial pattern. The call is a long trill, and the song is a high-pitched rapid-fire jumble of musical notes that can be quite long.
Identification
The chestnut-crowned sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser superciliosus) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is found in Africa south of the Sahara, from Senegal and Gambia to Eritrea, Ethiopia and western Kenya.
Taxonomy
Genus: Plocepasser; Family: Ploceidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Plocepasser superciliosus
- Authority
- (Cretzschmar, 1827)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Genus
- Plocepasser
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Energetic and pugnacious little dark-brown vanga. The eye is brown, and the underparts are grayish. Madagascar endemic that is found in eastern rainforest, mainly at middle elevations. Constantly on the move through the mid-story, usually in pairs. Song is a complicated up-and-down warble. Darker eye and darker overall coloration separate it from Common Newtonia. Much duller coloration than the rare Red-tailed Newtonia.
Mongolian Ground-Jay
Podoces hendersoni
With its long, slightly decurved bill, flashy black-and-white wings, and ground-loving behavior, this bird is far from a typical jay. Sandy brown overall with a black crown and a thin dark line behind the eye. Clean pale face, less extensive white in the wing, and lack of white on the rump distinguish it from similar-looking Xinjiang Ground-Jay. Inhabits open, dry steppeland and high-altitude semi-desert, where it forages on the ground but often perches up on exposed boulders or snags.
Giant Wren
Campylorhynchus chiapensis
Very large wren restricted to coastal plain of Chiapas and adjacent Guatemala. Favors open and semiopen areas with hedges, scattered large trees, stone walls, and thickets; often in and around villages and in gardens of small farms. Forages from the ground to the canopy of palm trees, mainly at low to middle levels. Occurs alongside somewhat smaller, but rather similar rufous-backed form of Rufous-naped Wren. Note Giant’s plain rufous back and wings and rufous tail (Rufous-naped Wren has boldly barred wings andblackish tail). Despite large size, can be elusive, like all wrens.
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