Cuckoo-roller
Leptosomus discolor
A large, big-headed, short-legged bird that is very odd in almost every way, especially in the position of the eye near the top of the head. Males have a pale head and underparts and a colorful iridescent back. Females are rufous brown with heavy spotting below. Found in all forest types, and sometimes in adjacent scrub and plantations. Often perches and feeds in the canopy, though rarely on an emergent branch. Males and pairs frequently make soaring display flights, constantly giving incredibly loud and persistent three-part wailing calls. Much larger than Broad-billed Roller, with a dark bill. Looks raptor-like, but has a huge head, small bill, and less powerful wingbeats.
识别特征
The cuckoo-roller has a total length of 40–50 cm (16–20 in); the nominate subspecies is the largest, and L. d. gracilis the smallest. Unlike the true rollers and ground rollers, where the sexes have identical appearance, the cuckoo-roller is sexually dichromatic. Males have a mostly velvety grey chest and head, changing gradually to white on the remaining underparts (the demarcation between grey and white is stronger in L. d. gracilis). The back, tail, and wing-coverts are dark iridescent green with a purplish tinge (especially on the wing-coverts), and the crown and eye-stripe are black. Females are mostly brown, with strongly dark-spotted pale underparts (less spotting in L. d. gracilis). Juveniles are generally reported as resembling a dull female, but at least juveniles of L. d. gracilis are sexually dimorphic, and this also possibly applies to the other subspecies. The bill is stout and the eyes are set far back in the face. The legs and feet are small, and the feet have an unusual structure which has confused many ornithologists, but is now thought to be zygodactylous (two toes forwards, two toes backwards).
分类信息
Genus: Leptosomus; Family: Leptosomidae; Order: Leptosomiformes.
- 学名
- Leptosomus discolor
- 命名信息
- (Hermann, 1783)
- 目
- Leptosomiformes
- 科
- Leptosomidae
- 属
- Leptosomus
分布与栖息地
The cuckoo-roller occupies a wide variety of habitats, including altered areas. They inhabit forest, including rainforest, litoral forest, deciduous forest, spiny bush-forest, and tree plantations. In the Comoros, the species is found on all the major islands, particularly in forested zones. It can be found from near sea level up to 2000 m.
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
Migration pattern: Resident species.
保护状况
Population trend: declining.
- 种群趋势
- declining
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
Red-shouldered Macaw
Diopsittaca nobilis
Small macaw, easily confused with a large parakeet. Largely green apart from a contrasting bare white face, blue crown, and red shoulders. The bill varies in color between regions; all dark in the northern subspecies, with a paler upper mandible and dark lower mandible in other subspecies. Typically found foraging in groups or pairs in savannas, palm groves, and occasionally in urban areas. Has a loud rasping call.
White-fronted Redstart
Myioborus albifrons
An attractive and very active warbler with bright yellow underparts, slate gray upperparts and head, rufous crown, bold white spectacles, and tail highlighted with white. Sexes similar. Common in mixed-species flocks in canopy and mid-level of high elevation Andean cloud forest. Feeds on insects while flashing wings and tail feathers. Song is a melodic series of warbling notes. Visually similar to Slate-throated Redstart but with obvious white spectacles and brighter rufous crown. Endemic to the Andes of Venezuela.
African Spotted Creeper
Salpornis salvadori
Although it is in a different family from the treecreepers, this species has typical creeper structure and behavior. The intricately spotted and barred plumage is gray-brown and white. Generally uncommon and local in a variety of moist woodland types, including miombo and Guinea savanna. Creeps its way up a tree, then flies down to start up another tree. The song is a quiet, high-pitched, up-and-down series of “seet” calls.
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