Ochre-crowned Greenlet
Tunchiornis ochraceiceps
Small, often rather active little bird of shady forest understory in humid tropical lowlands; often in areas with understory palms. Usually in pairs at middle levels moving with mixed-species flocks that often include Golden-crowned Warbler and Red-crowned Ant-Tanager. Rather drab brownish overall with tawny bushy crest, paler gray face and throat, and piercing pale eye (can be hard to see in the shade). Often gives a twangy, nasal “dwoi-dwoi-dwoi” call and a high, insectlike, whining whistle.
Identification
Small, often rather active little bird of shady forest understory in humid tropical lowlands; often in areas with understory palms. Usually in pairs at middle levels moving with mixed-species flocks that often include Golden-crowned Warbler and Red-crowned Ant-Tanager. Rather drab brownish overall with tawny bushy crest, paler gray face and throat, and piercing pale eye (can be hard to see in the shade). Often gives a twangy, nasal “dwoi-dwoi-dwoi” call and a high, insectlike, whining whistle.
Taxonomy
The tawny-crowned greenlet was formally described in 1860 by the English zoologist Philip Sclater. The specimen had been collected in the state of Oaxaca of southwest Mexico by the French ornithologist Adolphe Boucard. Sclater coined the binomial name Hylophilus ochraceiceps. The specific name combines the Modern Latin ochraceus meaning "ochraceous" with -ceps meaning "-capped". The species is now placed in the monotypic genus Tunchiornis that was introduced in 2014.<p>Ten subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Tunchiornis ochraceiceps
- Authority
- (Sclater, PL, 1860)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Vireonidae
- Genus
- Tunchiornis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
St. Lucia Wren
Troglodytes mesoleucus
Small brownish wren found only on St. Lucia. Drab brown above and white below, with a faint eyebrow, and dark barring on the wings and tail. Generally more arboreal than mainland “House Wrens”, occurring in dense brushy woodland throughout the island. Often perches conspicuously when singing, but otherwise fairly secretive. Listen for loud song of chatters and clearer trills, as well as harsh scolding calls.
Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant
Pseudotriccus pelzelni
A tiny, rotund flycatcher found singly in the understory of montane forest from Panama to Peru. Very nondescript plumage: darker olive above with a dull tawny breast and yellowish belly. Looks uniformly brownish in bad light. Usually stays low, where it perches quietly and sallies out to glean insects. Often detected by its snapping sounds and whirring wingbeats. Occurs from around 700–2,000 m, typically lower than Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant but some elevation overlap.
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
A large gull found throughout northern Europe. Adults have a fairly pale gray back, pale eye, and dull pinkish legs. Takes four years for immatures to progress from mostly brown to fully white and gray adult plumage; intermediate plumages are often mottled and messy. Extremely variable plumage can make identification a challenge. Adults can normally be identified by a combination of their large size and pale-gray back. Usually shows a dull pinkish base to the bill by the first winter, and develops a pale eye by the second winter. Some immature birds can fade to almost white, especially in their first or second summer, but they always show darker wingtips. Occurs inland and along the coast, frequenting fishing boats, beaches, lakes, and landfills. Often forms large flocks with other gulls.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.