Sulawesi Bush Warbler
Locustella castanea
A sparrow-sized dark warbler with an often scruffy-looking, graduated tail. Has dark chestnut-brown upperparts, a whitish eyebrow, a distinct white throat, and dull grayish underparts. Formerly grouped with Buru Bush Warbler and Seram Bush Warbler under the name “Chestnut-backed Bush Warbler.” A secretive inhabitant of montane and foothill forest, often creeping around on or near the ground. Darker above and dingier below than Gray’s and Middendorff's Grasshopper-Warblers, and also has a clean-cut white throat; almost identical to Buru and Seram Bush Warblers, but ranges do not overlap. Calls include a sharp metallic “chit” and a drawn-out, wavering buzzy note, “tzeeoooreee.” There is some variation in songs, which usually comprise three high-pitched buzzing notes, “tzeeee-tzeee-tzeee,” higher-pitched on the final note.
Taxonomy
There are two subspecies:
- Scientific name
- Locustella castanea
- Authority
- (Büttikofer, 1893)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Locustellidae
- Genus
- Locustella
Range and habitat
The Sulawesi bush warbler is found in undisturbed primary montane forest and in secondary forest, as well as adjoining thick scrub, bushes and rank grassland. It has a preference for moss-covered rocks and tree trunks densely clad with vines. On Seram it frequents lower mountain slopes in Lithospermum and Castanopsis woodland with Shorea, Agathis and Dacrydium trees, ferns and mosses, and also dense patches of bamboo. One of the places where this bird can be found on Sulawesi is the Gunung Ambang Nature Reserve.
Behavior
The Sulawesi bush warbler is a mostly ground-dwelling bird, skulking in the undergrowth and running on the forest floor in a manner reminiscent of a mouse. It often flicks its wings over its back and cocks its tail slightly. It sometimes sings perched on a low branch. The song is a repetitive series of short, insect-like buzzing trills, "tzeeeuuutzeee". The breeding habits of this species are unknown but a fully-fledged juvenile has been seen in August.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Other Birds
Crimson-bellied Woodpecker
Campephilus haematogaster
Large woodpecker; scarce and local in larger patches of humid forest from Panama to Bolivia. Two subspecies; one found in foothills and subtropics on the east slope of Andes from southern Colombia to northern Bolivia, the other in lowlands and foothills on the west slope of Andes from Panama to Ecuador. Could be confused with several other Campephilus species, but look for rich reddish underparts with no barring, black back with no prominent white stripes, and buffy stripes on the face. Typically shier than other large woodpeckers and found in more mature forest. Occurs singly or in pairs, usually in the lower to middle levels of the forest.
Mauritius White-eye
Zosterops chloronothos
An unusual white-eye with dark plumage and a long, curved bill. Mostly gray with an olive-green wing and rump and a broad white eye-ring. Found on the island of Mauritius in remnant scraps of humid forest, including secondary areas dominated by exotic plants, mostly at middle and high elevations. Vaguely similar to Mauritius Gray White-eye, but easily separated by the white eye-ring and the olive-green color in the plumage. The most common calls are accelerating series of “veet” and “sit” notes.
White-billed Buffalo-Weaver
Bubalornis albirostris
A big, bulky, long-tailed black weaver. The bill is white in males and black in females. There is a white patch on the front edge of the shoulder, and also a pale patch in the wing that can be conspicuous in flight. Immatures are dark brown with heavy streaking below. Found in dry savanna and woodland, often in flocks. Builds huge communal stick nests. Similar to Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, but never shows a red bill. The common call is a harsh “sjet” that is often given repeatedly by a whole group in chorus.
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