Naked-faced Spiderhunter
Arachnothera clarae
A small to medium-sized bird of forest and scrub from lowlands to low elevations in the mountains, with a long curved bill. Has a preference for plantain flowers. Overall olive-green in color, grading to pale yellow on the belly, with golden-olive in the wing and faint streaking on the chest. Note the bare orange skin coming down from the base of the bill. Birds in the east-central part of the range have an additional naked orange patch just above the bill. Somewhat similar to Orange-tufted Spiderhunter, but Naked-faced is larger and darker below. Voice includes a rough, grating trill, “grrrrrrr!”
Identification
The naked-faced spiderhunter is a small to medium-sized passerine bird with a long, downward curved bill. The plumage is predominantly olive green, pale yellow on the abdomen, with olive yellow on the wings and faint streaking on the breast. A characteristic feature is a patch of orange bare skin at the base of the bill, which gives the species its name. Birds in the east-central part of the range have an additional naked patch just above the bill. The species somewhat resembles the orange-tufted spiderhunter, but is larger and darker underneath. The calls include a rough drill, "grrrrrrrrr!".
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Arachnothera clarae
- Authority
- Blasius, W, 1890
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Nectariniidae
- Genus
- Arachnothera
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The naked-faced spiderhunter is found in forests and shrublands in low-lying areas and lower mountains. It has a preference for banana flowers.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Livingstone's Turaco
Tauraco livingstonii
Spectacular, green, crested turaco. Shows large crimson wing patches in flight. Found in forest and dense woodland. Acts like a typical turaco, bouncing through the trees and flying occasionally with short bursts of wingbeats and long glides. Call is a gruff, accelerating series of “kow” notes. Similar to Schalow’s and Knysna turacos, but minimal overlap in range. Crest is shorter than that of Schalow’s Turaco and longer than that of Knysna Turaco.
Olive-backed Foliage-gleaner
Automolus infuscatus
Dark brown foliage-gleaner of mature rainforest understory. Warm dark brown body, with a clean whitish throat patch and reddish brown tail. Does not have prominent reddish brown in the wings like many other foliage-gleaners do; the clean whitish throat, plain face (without a strong eyebrow) and habit of foraging low are other good distinguishing features to tell it apart from other foliage-gleaners. Primarily found in the understory of mature rainforest. Listen for its song, a musical trill with stuttered introductory note, “ch-trrrrrrrr”, similar to that of Chestnut-crowned Foliage-gleaner from denser secondary growth habitats, but slightly lower and with a more distinct introductory note.
Ecuadorian Piedtail
Phlogophilus hemileucurus
Fairly small hummingbird with a limited range in the foothills on the east slope of the Andes from southern Colombia to northern Peru. The broad white collar and extensive white in the tail are the most obvious field marks, otherwise it is green above and white below with a straight bill. Occasionally visits feeders, but is more likely to be found in the understory of forests in the foothills from around 900 to 1,300 m. Compare with female Booted Racket-tail and Rufous-vented Whitetip.
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