White-shouldered Triller
Lalage sueurii
Slender inhabitant of open wooded areas in lowlands and foothills. Smartly-patterned black-and-white male can be difficult to distinguish from Sulawesi and Pied Trillers where ranges overlap, but note his extremely narrow white eyebrow and less extensive white on the wing. Female, with her dirt-brown back, is fairly distinctive among trillers. Forages in trees and on the ground; often uses exposed perches. Gives a fast, high-pitched series of “tchew” notes, often with a quiet introductory note.
Identification
The white-shouldered triller (Lalage sueurii) is a passerine bird belonging to the triller genus Lalage in the cuckoo-shrike family Campephagidae. It is found in Indonesia and East Timor. The white-winged triller (L. tricolor) of Australia and New Guinea was formerly included in this species but is now treated as a separate species. It is a fairly small bird, 17 centimetres in length. The bill is grey with a black tip and the legs and feet are black. The male is mainly black above and white below. It has a grey rump, white stripe over the eye, white wing-patches and white on the outer tail-feathers. Females have a similar pattern to the males but are brown instead of black above and have fine black barring on the underparts. The pied triller is similar but is slightly smaller with a broader stripe above the eye and more white in the wing. The male white-winged triller has no white stripe over the eye. The song of the white-shouldered triller is a metallic whistling which is sometimes given in flight. It also utters a rapid series of harsh notes. It occurs in eastern Java, southern Sulawesi, Bali and on the Lesser Sunda Islands. It inhabits open woodland, savannas and agricultural land in dry, lowland areas. It feeds on insects, often swooping down from a perch to catch them on the ground.
Taxonomy
Genus: Lalage; Family: Campephagidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Lalage sueurii
- Authority
- (Vieillot, 1818)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Campephagidae
- Genus
- Lalage
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: rising.
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Campina Thrush
Turdus arthuri
A drab thrush, uncommon in open habitats and woodlands in the lowlands. Nondescript grayish-brown with a pale whitish belly. Sexes similar. Usually seen singly or in pairs. Song is a typical thrushlike series of musical phrases. Similar to Pantepui Thrush but separated by grayer body, stronger throat pattern, and different habitat.
Brown Babbler
Turdoides plebejus
A dull brownish babbler with brightly colored eyes. Found in moist woodland, dense savanna, scrub, gallery forest, forest edge, cultivated areas, and gardens, almost always in groups that forage actively on the ground. Similar in shape, size, and overall brown coloration to Arrow-marked Babbler, but there is only minor overlap in range, and Brown Babbler can be separated by the paler face and throat and the less pointed white markings on the underparts. Calls include a raspy babbling and a dry clucking, both usually by a whole group in chorus.
Willow Tit
Poecile montanus
Active little inhabitant of coniferous and mixed forest, birch woodland, willow and alder scrub. Very similar to Marsh Tit, and often best separated by its differently whistled song (more helpful in western range than in eastern). Gives various high-pitched and scolding calls; generally narrower vocal range than Marsh Tit. Often in scrubbier habitats than Marsh Tit; sometimes visits feeders. On Willow Tit, note pale wing panel (vs. rather plain wings of Marsh), slightly larger and messier black bib, and brighter buffy flanks.
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