Many-colored Bushshrike
Chlorophoneus multicolor
Pretty bushshrike that has several different morphs. These vary by the color of the breast: black, yellow, orange, red, or buff. Males have a black mask through the eye, and females a gray one. Found in the mid-story and canopy of humid forest. Often joins mixed-species feeding flocks. The most common vocalization is a quiet, rising, two-part whistle. Very similar to Black-fronted Bushshrike, but doesn’t overlap in range.
Identification
The many-colored bushshrike or many-coloured bushshrike (Chlorophoneus multicolor) is a species of bird in the bushshrike family, Malaconotidae. The black-fronted bushshrike (C. nigrifrons) of southern and eastern Africa is sometimes included in this species. It is sparsely present across the African tropical rainforest. C. m. multicolor (Gray, GR, 1845) — Sierra Leone to Cameroon; C. m. batesi Sharpe, 1908 — southern Cameroon to western Uganda and northwestern Angola; C. m. graueri (Hartert, 1908) — Albertine Rift montane forests. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Taxonomy
Genus: Chlorophoneus; Family: Malaconotidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Chlorophoneus multicolor
- Authority
- (Gray, GR, 1845)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Malaconotidae
- Genus
- Chlorophoneus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Cinnamon Flycatcher
Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus
Bright rufous flycatcher of the Andean subtropical zone. Fairly small size, entirely cinnamon underparts, brown back, and bright rufous wing patch render this species distinctive. Usually found in pairs, perched conspicuously at the edge of the cloud forest. Sexes alike. Voice is also a good way to detect this species: listen for the sputtering, slightly descending trill. The subspecies found in Venezuela and northern Colombia is even brighter cinnamon than its southern counterparts, especially on the back and wings.
Bates's Nightjar
Caprimulgus batesi
Large, dark, long-tailed forest nightjar. Males have small white patches in the outer wings and at the corners of the tail; females have all-dark wings and can show small buff tail corners. Found in lowland rainforest, including forest edge and clearings. The distinctive vocalization is usually given from a tree: a single barking “kow,” followed after a pause by a quick series of several similar notes. Found in the same habitat as Brown Nightjar, but larger and longer-tailed; males further distinguished by the pale patches in the wing and tail.
Schrenck's Bittern
Botaurus eurhythmus
Small heron, usually found in reed beds, expansive marshes, and rice fields; can occasionally be found in parks with sheltered areas, particularly lotus ponds and shaded pools. Generally uncommon throughout its range; never in the high densities of Yellow Bittern. Male is smartly attired, with a black cap, brown back, and a white neck and breast with a dark line extending down from the throat. Female is darker, with fine white spotting on the back and pale brown streaks on the throat. Compare with Cinnamon Bittern. Males give a gruff “roof, roof, roof” on the breeding grounds.
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