Dusky Gerygone
Gerygone tenebrosa
Small bird with thin bill (longer than on most other gerygones), found only in dense mangroves along the northwestern Australian coast. Grayish brown above, off-white below, with pale eye. Juvenile has brownish eye. Similar Mangrove Gerygone has red eye, smaller bill, and white patches in tail; Large-billed Gerygone has dark eye and heavier bill. Unlikely to be seen outside mangrove habitat.
Identification
The dusky gerygone (Gerygone tenebrosa) is a species of bird in the family Acanthizidae. It is endemic to coastal central and northern areas of Western Australia, from Shark Bay to Kunmuya. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.
Taxonomy
Genus: Gerygone; Family: Acanthizidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Gerygone tenebrosa
- Authority
- (Hall, R, 1901)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Acanthizidae
- Genus
- Gerygone
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Western Orphean Warbler
Curruca hortensis
Large warbler with a dark head contrasting with white throat. Pale eye in adults. Told from Eastern Orphean Warbler by its browner (not gray) back and plain buffy (not spotted) undertail. Breeds in deciduous woodland and tall scrub, orchards, abandoned gardens, and riverine belts. Spends the non-breeding season in dry open habitats with sparse trees and scrubby plant cover. Song is simple and quite different from Eastern: "Turu turu turu turu.... liru liru turu." Call is a clicking "teck."
Green-tailed Warbler
Microligea palustris
Secretive, found in montane thickets and scrub, typically in or near forests. Usually solitary and rarely found in mixed feeding flocks. Soft gray of body and head contrast sharply with olive-green back and wings. It is similar to White-winged Warbler, but is gray rather than white below, has red eyes, and lacks white on the tail and wings. Song is a series of loud, sharp “tsip” notes. Calls include loud squeaky notes and raspy scolds.
Ochre-bellied Boobook
Ninox ochracea
A medium-sized brown owl with a rounded head. Note the rufous underparts, clear white eyebrows, and striking yellow eyes. Upperparts chocolate-brown with bold white spots on the wings. Found in understory in lowland and foothill forest, roosting in the day in pairs or small groups within tangled thickets. Occurs at lower elevations than Cinnabar Boobook, and differs in its white eyebrows and brown upperparts. Gives a strident growling song, “woo-wooOW,” with a longer, louder second note. Also gives a single frog-like “grrrrow.”
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.