Sangihe Golden-Bulbul
Hypsipetes platenae
A dull thrush-sized songbird with a long stout bill. Uniform dark olive above with a prominent yellow patch between bill and eye, a yellow throat, a dark eye, and paler cheeks. Rest of underparts greenish. Juveniles duller and pale-eyed. Rare; small groups are confined to remnant patches of foothill forest on Sangihe. Prominent yellow parts of plumage separate it from the smaller, browner Sangihe Whistler. Calls include “bwit” and thrush-like “puk” notes. Loud, two-part song starts with four rising nasal notes, followed by whistles: “kwee-kwee-kwee-kwee-DEEP-pDEEP-pDEEP”.
Taxonomy
The Sangihe golden bulbul was formally described in 1888 by the German ornithologist Wilhelm Blasius from a specimen collected by Margarete and Carl Platen on Sangir Island, north of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Blaisius placed the species in the genus Criniger and coined the binomial name Criniger platenae. The specific epithet was chosen to honour the Platens. By publishing scientific names in a daily newspaper, the Braunschweigische Anzeiger, Blasius was able to get his new names in print before his main rival Richard Bowdler Sharpe.<p>The Sangihe golden bulbul was formerly considered as conspecific with the five other bulbuls, all called the northern golden bulbul before they were all split. This bulbul is now placed in the genus Hypsipetes that was introduced in 1831 by Nicholas Vigors.
- Scientific name
- Hypsipetes platenae
- Authority
- (Blasius, W, 1888)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Genus
- Hypsipetes
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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Malacocincla abbotti
Plain, sandy-brown babbler with distinct orange-tan tones to the sides. Note grayish tones to the face and the large heavy bill with a hooked tip. Prefers degraded and secondary forest, where it forages quite slowly and methodically on or near the ground, without the frenetic energy of some other babblers. Moves singly or in pairs. Call repertoire is wide, and includes harsh churrs as well as smooth whistles. Song consists of melodic whistles, usually 3-4 notes.
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Small but brightly-colored woodpecker with a spiky crest. Slight variation across its range, but all birds have a dark orangish face, dark chestnut wings, black-and-white-striped underparts, and a dark tail. Female duller overall, with a plainer face. Inhabits lowland and foothill forests, edges, and gardens, where it can be reasonably common. Often seen singly, but can be encountered in closely-foraging pairs. Favors tall thick trunks. Gives sharp “kek” or “week” call notes. Difficult to confuse with any other small woodpecker.
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Patagioenas plumbea
Large dark pigeon of forest interior. Overall purplish-gray, slightly darker and browner on wings. Pale eye. Sexes alike. Note plainer appearance and longer tail than many other doves and pigeons. Most similar to Ruddy Pigeon but plumage grayer (not reddish) and eye paler. Usually quite secretive, staying in the canopy where singles or pairs feed on fruits. Found from lowlands into subtropical zone, up to 2,300 m (7,500 ft). More often heard than seen; listen for the cooing “who-cooks-for-you” song with the last two notes drawn out.
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