White-headed Marsh Tyrant
Arundinicola leucocephala
Small flycatcher always found near water such as lakes, ponds, and marshes where it perches conspicuously. Males are quite unique in being black with a white head, while females are grayish-brown above and pale below with a white forehead and throat. Mostly silent.
Identification
The adult white-headed marsh tyrant is 12.7 cm long and weighs 15 g. The male is entirely brown-black, apart from the relatively large white head and yellowish lower mandible. The female has brown upperparts and wings and a black tail. Her underparts, sides of the head and forecrown are dull white. This is a quiet species, but the call is a sharp sedik.<p>This species is found in marshy savannahs, reedbeds and the edges of mangrove swamps.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Arundinicola leucocephala
- Authority
- (Linnaeus, 1764)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Arundinicola
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Tepui Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus whitelianus
Small green toucan of tepui highlands; unique in range. Appears slender and small-billed with mostly green plumage contrasting with reddish bill and chestnut tail feather tips. Found in mossy highland forest, generally above 800 meters, where groups move through canopy searching for fruit; sometimes moves with other bird species and will congregate around fruiting trees. Not particularly vocal and surprisingly easy to overlook. Call is a wailing grunt, given in a rhythmic series, sometimes for extended periods with short breaks; it is unlike any other bird vocalization in this species’s limited range.
Tiny Tyrant-Manakin
Tyranneutes virescens
Tiny, short-tailed denizen of tall rainforest; common, but heard far more often than seen. Virtually devoid of good field marks, since male’s yellow crown patch is rarely seen from below. Best located by tracking down singing males on song perches below the canopy, where they sit motionless for long periods, repeating their distinctive song.
Pearly-bellied Seedeater
Sporophila pileata
Very small finchlike bird with a short bill. Inhabits savannas and grasslands, where it often joins flocks of other seedeater species. Males are mostly gray-brown with a hint of cinnamon and have a black cap, wings and tail. Females are brown above and pale below, and are very similar to female Copper Seedeaters, but are grayer than that species.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.