Stripe-sided Rhabdornis

Rhabdornis mystacalis

A medium-sized, long-billed bird of primary lowland and foothill forest with a white throat and belly, brown wings and tail, a black mask, a dark crown finely streaked white, and black sides broadly streaked white. Sometimes joins mixed-species flocks, where it often investigates under bark with its long bill. Resembles the other rhabdornis species, but usually found at lower elevations, and has a dark crown streaked with white rather than a gray crown. Voice consists of high-pitched chips, sometimes sped up into a chatter.

Identification

A medium-sized, long-billed bird of primary lowland and foothill forest with a white throat and belly, brown wings and tail, a black mask, a dark crown finely streaked white, and black sides broadly streaked white. Sometimes joins mixed-species flocks, where it often investigates under bark with its long bill. Resembles the other rhabdornis species, but usually found at lower elevations, and has a dark crown streaked with white rather than a gray crown. Voice consists of high-pitched chips, sometimes sped up into a chatter.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Rhabdornis mystacalis
Authority
(Temminck, 1825)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Sturnidae
Genus
Rhabdornis

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

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Bornean Treepie

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Long-tailed corvid of Borneo’s hilly and montane forests; the only treepie in its range. Note stout black bill, black wings with white patch, and warm buffy brown underparts and face. Social and noisy; often encountered in flocks as individuals keep in contact with one another via an assortment of squawks, rasps, and clinking metallic notes. Can be fairly tame, allowing close approach, especially around trails and campsites.

Mottled Spinetail

Mottled Spinetail

Telacanthura ussheri

Medium-sized swift with erratic flight. Note the dark underparts and white rump patch, which separate it from other spinetails. Seen on the wing over moist savannah, woodland, and gallery forest. Often in areas with baobabs, which are a favored nesting site. Usually solo or in pairs. Similar in appearance to Little Swift, but Mottled Spinetail shows a pale band across the bottom of the belly, and flies more weakly, with the wings pushed forwards.

Brown-headed Honeyeater

Brown-headed Honeyeater

Melithreptus brevirostris

Small honeyeater with brown cap. Primarily gray-brown with olive back and lighter underparts. Eye patch and band leading from the eye to back of the head are cream-colored. Juveniles have pale blue coloration around the eye and a yellow bill. Take care to separate from juvenile White-naped Honeyeater, which lacks the pale half collar around the side of the neck. The plumage of this species varies geographically. Common in eucalypt forests, where it is usually very vocal and active. Forages in small groups.

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