Western Bearded-Greenbul
Criniger barbatus
A big, chunky, relatively colorful rainforest greenbul. Mostly olive-green, with a reddish tail and a mostly gray head. The throat feathers are long and often puffed out; they are rich yellow in most of the range, but pale yellow in Nigeria. Found in the understory and at middle levels of rainforest and gallery forest. Usually in small, noisy groups that often join mixed flocks. Similar to Yellow-bearded Greenbul, but larger, with a puffier throat and some gray in the plumage. Similar to Red-tailed Greenbul, but larger, and never shows a pure white throat. Somewhat similar to Icterine Greenbul, but larger, and much darker on the breast and belly. The loud and distinctive call is a rising, two-part “truwa-treeeaa.”
Taxonomy
The western bearded greenbul was formally described and illustrated in 1821 by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck from a specimen collected in Sierra Leone. He coined the binomial name Trichophorus barbatus.<p>Formerly, some authorities considered the eastern bearded greenbul as conspecific with the western bearded greenbul.<p>Two subspecies are recognized:
- Scientific name
- Criniger barbatus
- Authority
- (Temminck, 1821)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Genus
- Criniger
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Brown-headed Honeyeater
Melithreptus brevirostris
Small honeyeater with brown cap. Primarily gray-brown with olive back and lighter underparts. Eye patch and band leading from the eye to back of the head are cream-colored. Juveniles have pale blue coloration around the eye and a yellow bill. Take care to separate from juvenile White-naped Honeyeater, which lacks the pale half collar around the side of the neck. The plumage of this species varies geographically. Common in eucalypt forests, where it is usually very vocal and active. Forages in small groups.
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
Common and fairly widespread across much of North America and the Caribbean. Medium-sized songbird with a relatively long tail, small head, and short bill. Gray above and paler whitish below. Note white wingbars and large white patch at the base of the primaries. Found in a variety of open habitats with scattered bushes or trees, often close to human settlements. Well-known for its impressive mimicry; often includes a wide range of other birds, car alarms, slamming doors, and other mechanical noises in its song. Limited range overlap with Tropical Mockingbird at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico; Northern is most easily identified by its large white wing patches.
White-fronted Swift
Cypseloides storeri
Poorly known and rarely seen medium-sized swift. Very local in west Mexico and very rarely identified in the field. Like many swifts, nests behind waterfalls. Rather stocky and large-headed, with a squared tail tip. About the same size as much commoner Chestnut-collared Swift, with which White-fronted can associate. Plumage looks wholly black unless seen close in good light, when white forehead can show up. Beware, slightly larger Black Swift has similar white forehead.
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