Santa Marta Warbler

Myiothlypis basilica

Handsome warbler found only at higher elevations in Colombia’s Santa Marta Mountains. The combination of yellow body and ornately patterned black and white head is unique within its limited range. Hides in dense tangles in cloud forest understory, especially in bamboo patches, and can be hard to see well. Pairs sing duets where one bird gives a rising and falling series of squeaks, and its mate adds a steady series of tic notes. Small numbers can usually be found along the road in the upper reaches of El Dorado Nature Reserve.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Myiothlypis basilica
Authority
(Todd, 1913)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Parulidae
Genus
Myiothlypis

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Writhe-billed Hornbill

Writhe-billed Hornbill

Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni

A large rare bird of lowland and foothill forest on Panay and Negros, although almost extinct on the latter. Mostly black with a cream-colored tail with black terminal band, an orange casque, and a wrinkled lower bill. Male has a rufous head, a yellow pouch, and yellow around the eye. Female has a black neck and head, a smaller bill and casque, and blue and yellow around the eye and on the chin. The only other hornbill in range is Visayan, but Writhe-billed is larger, with a pale bill. Voice includes a three-noted throaty chuckle.

Seychelles Scops-Owl

Seychelles Scops-Owl

Otus insularis

Small compact owl with very small ear tufts that are often invisible. Buff on the underparts and rufous-brown on the back. Found in remnant rainforest and secondary forest on the island of Mahe, in the Seychelles. The odd vocalization is a low, raspy “grrrrr” that is given at a rate of about one note every two seconds, sometimes for several minutes at a stretch. The sound could easily be dismissed as a frog. Visually the species is easily identified, as the only other owl on Mahe is the much larger Barn Owl. 

Rufous Songlark

Rufous Songlark

Cincloramphus mathewsi

Plain brownish songbird with faint pale eyebrow and rust-colored rump. Similar female White-winged Triller has white-edged wing panel. Brown Songlark larger, with longer legs and bill and more strongly patterned upperparts. Found across much of Australia, less so in the southeast, in treeless open habitats. Spectacular song includes long sequences of trills and loud electrical phrases, very unlike Brown Songlark.

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