Bird of the day

Southern Banded Snake-Eagle

Chunky dark brown raptor with barred underparts. Found in and adjacent to forest, thick woodland, and exotic tree plantations, often near water. Sits for long periods and doesn’t often soar. Generally scarce and uncommon across its range. Call is a weird, strangled “whaaat ho-ho-ho-haaa”. Very similar to Banded Snake-Eagle, but no overlap in range. Somewhat similar to African Cuckoo-Hawk, but larger and chunkier, with a dark brown rather than gray head.

Link: https://ebird.org/species/faseag1
Photo Location: South Africa

Large Niltava

Typical niltava: male bright blue, female plain brown. Male is bright electric purplish-blue above and very dark blue below. Female is dark brown with rusty tones in the wings and an iridescent blue patch on the neck. Southeast Asian females have a pale powder-blue crown and nape. Lack of a bright white throat patch separates female from female Rufous-bellied and Fujian Niltavas. Small Niltava is similar in plumage, but much smaller and less heavyset. Male White-tailed Robin can be surprisingly similar but is proportionally smaller-headed and larger-bodied and has a wider tail with two bright white patches on it. Inhabits dense submontane forests, where it can be difficult to spot in dense foliage; often encountered making forays from a perch. Song is an ascending series of 3-4 short, highly musical whistled notes.

Link: https://ebird.org/species/larnil1
Photo Location: Malaysia

Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch A heavily marked rosefinch that is closely related to and extremely similar to Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch. Male averages more extensively pink with a broader pink brow. The female, on the other hand is almost indistinguishable; look for a more square-tipped and slightly shorter tail. Best distinguished by calls; gives sharp metallic notes instead of Himalayan Beautiful’s more mellow trills and twitters. Inhabits similar montane scrub and open forest habitat, occasionally ventures down into the outskirts of towns and villages; often singly or in pairs. Link: https://ebird.org/species/chbros1 Photo Location: China

Plaintive Cuckoo

A small and slender cuckoo, far more often heard than seen; the male's accelerating song, which decreases in volume as it progresses, is composed of a few whistled long notes followed by shorter, breathy notes. Adult male and typical (non-hepatic) female show orange belly, gray head, and brown back and tail. Hepatic, or rufous-morph, individuals are rusty brown above and white below, with black barring all over the body. Inhabits open woodlands, edges, and agricultural areas.

Link: https://ebird.org/species/placuc1
Photo Location: Malaysia

Golden-winged Manakin

Chunky little bird of Andean cloud forest from around 800–2,000 m. Male mostly jet black with fancy golden forecrown and black horns. Namesake golden wings are barely visible when perched; look for flashes when male flies from perch to perch. Female drab olive-green and similar to other female manakins, but note yellowish belly and throat, dull pinkish bill, and pinkish-red legs. Usually quiet and inconspicuous, staying in the lower levels of the forest. Males gather in small groups to display, when they make a high-pitched note followed by sputtering and snapping noises. Also listen for single croaking call.

Link: https://ebird.org/species/gowman1
Photo Location: Colombia

Vermilion Flycatcher Small, gorgeous flycatcher of open habitats. Adult males have brilliant red underparts and crown with dark brown upperparts and mask behind eye. Females and immature males are much duller grayish-brown, but usually show pink or yellowish color on belly. Widespread; occurs from the southwest U.S. to Argentina. Found in many open woodlands and brushy areas, often seen perched on fence posts along roadsides. Feeds on insects. Link: https://ebird.org/species/verfly Photo Location: United States

Marigold Lorikeet A handsome long-tailed green parrot with a purple head, a red bill, and a striking yellow chest and collar. In flight, note conspicuous yellow underwings. Juveniles have a brown bill and are duller in color. Pairs and small groups inhabit a variety of forest types in the lowlands of its limited range in the Lesser Sundas. Differs from Olive-headed Lorikeet in being a larger, lowland species with a dark purple-colored head. Regularly gives ear-splitting shrieks. Link: https://ebird.org/species/railor2 Photo Location: Timor-Leste

Little Green-Pigeon This aptly-named forest species is the smallest of the green-pigeons. Males are highly distinctive, with a blue-gray head and neck, orange chest, pinkish-maroon back, and green belly. Females are duller, but their combination of size, gray crown, and contrasting yellow-green chest serves to tell them apart from other green-pigeons. Pairs often forage and perch together, often on exposed bare branches. Like other pigeons, frequently gathers at fruiting trees. Song is a series of strangely buzzy rising whistles. Link: https://ebird.org/species/ligpig1 Photo Location: Singapore

Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher

Colorful kingfisher with very long white tail streamers, rusty-red underparts, and bright red bill. Head and wings blue, with black ‘eye-mask’ and white stripe running down the back. Juvenile has shorter tail streamers and a black bill. In the summer, breeds in the wet tropics of far north Queensland and southeast New Guinea, where it nests in burrows in termite mounds. Queensland birds migrate to New Guinea during the middle of the year.

Link: https://ebird.org/species/bubpak1
Photo Location: Australia

Rufous-headed Ground-Roller

Chunky, long-legged, richly colored bird. White shoulder marks are conspicuous in flight. Elusive and shy; unlikely to be seen by those not searching for it. Found in eastern rainforest, at upper and middle elevations. Feeds in the understory, usually in thick areas, often with bamboo. Avoids disturbance by fleeing on the ground or making short flights. Song is a quick hollow “kwowp” note that is repeated slowly, delivered from a low perch, often a mossy log. Lacks the intricate scaly marks of Scaly Ground-Roller and the pale underparts and complex head pattern of Pitta-like Ground-Roller.

Link: https://ebird.org/species/rhgrol1
Photo Location: Madagascar

Bay-vented Cotinga Uncommon cotinga found only in very high-elevation forest near treeline in the eastern Andes of central Peru. Adult plumage is gray with a tan breast and belly and a chestnut vent. Male has a black cap and a red crest that is usually hidden. Female lacks the crest and has only a little black on the crown. Juvenile is mostly brown but has the chestnut vent. Often perches up on an exposed branch. Typical call is a short, metallic rasp given at long intervals. Link: https://ebird.org/species/bavcot1 Photo Location: Peru

Scaly-naped Pigeon

A large dark pigeon of forests with a proclivity for perching high in trees while still not in clear view. Found throughout a variety of forested habitats at most elevations, generally most common in intact primary lowland and montane forest, but can be seen along a variety of forest edge and secondary forest types. Dark-slate gray body differs from the Plain Pigeon, which is distinctly paler, and it lacks the white crown of White-crowned Pigeon. It is somewhat skittish in most areas, perhaps due to hunting and is often first detected by a loud flapping of wings as it takes flight or by its low-pitched “wooo hooo” and “wudu-hoo hoooooo” songs.

Link: https://ebird.org/species/scnpig1
Photo Location: Cuba

Negros Scops-Owl

A fairly small owl of lowland and foothill forest on the islands of Negros and Panay, where it is the only scops-owl. Dark brown above and pale gray below, with a rufous face bordered with a black line and a pale gray V-shape between the eyes. Occurs together with Luzon Boobook, but Negros Scops-Owl has orange rather than yellow eyes and lacks the brown-streaked chest. Song is a descending series of upslurred yelps.

Link: https://ebird.org/species/negsco1
Photo Location: Philippines

Patagonian Canastero Drab canastero of central Argentina’s Monte desert region and northern Patagonian scrublands. Plain grayish-brown plumage and concolor tail distinctive in range. Song a very fast series of full, squeaked notes that slightly decellerates. Link: https://ebird.org/species/patcan2 Photo Location: Argentina

Retz's Helmetshrike

A gregarious, cartoon-like, mostly black-and-brown helmetshrike with a piercing orange eye, red legs and eye-wattles, and an orange-tipped red bill. Flocks of 2 to 15 birds inhabit mature broadleaf woodland and riverine and coastal forest, avoiding arid habitats. When not breeding, flock size may increase to 30 and groups may join other species, including White Helmetshrike, in mixed-species flocks. Calls are complex and include grating, whistling, and nasal notes.

Link: https://ebird.org/species/rethel1
Photo Location: South Africa

Silver-capped Fruit-Dove A colorful dove. Males have a bright silver head and chest, green wings, and a bright orange belly and undertail. Females are more uniformly green, with a yellow undertail and a grayish cast to the face. In flight, wings appear strongly blue. Occurs alongside Yellow-bibbed and White-headed Fruit-Doves, but male Silver-capped almost impossible to misidentify. Female is more similar to the other species, but gray face, dark beady eye, and silverish throat are diagnostic. Gives a typical dove-like bouncing, cooing call likened to laughter. Link: https://ebird.org/species/scfdov1 Photo Location: Solomon Islands

Rainbow Lorikeet

Familiar, large lorikeet. Very colorful, with a bright red breast, blue/black belly and head, as well as a red bill. Very conspicuous, often observed calling loudly while flying overhead or feeding. Note the much longer tail than Scaly-breasted Lorikeet. No range overlap with Red-collared Lorikeet, which has an orange breast and neck. Found in a wide range of habitats, including urban areas. In the evening and early morning can be seen roosting in very large, noisy flocks.

Link: https://ebird.org/species/railor5
Photo Location: Australia

Philippine Nightjar A medium-sized night bird of forest and open areas from the lowlands to the mountains. Heavily patterned in various shades of brown, with finely barred underparts, blotching on the chest, and dark wings with large pinkish and white spots and a broad pale bar bordered with black. Note the white lines on the side of the throat with a black line below, and the broad white band on the end of the undertail. Voice is a distinctive, loud two-noted “pyok prraw,” the second note slightly lower and with a vibrating quality. Link: https://ebird.org/species/phinig1 Photo Location: Philippines

Western Wattled-Honeyeater A medium-sized, mostly olive honeyeater with a slightly grayish cast to the throat, underside, and cheek. Note the dark blackish moustachial stripe with small bright yellow wattle, which are diagnostic, and the beady pale eye. Found in most habitats up to 1450 meters of elevation. Similar to Duetting Giant-Honeyeater, but smaller, and more olive than yellow. Gives loud, chiming, melodious whistles and bell-like sounds. Link: https://ebird.org/species/weswah1 Photo Location: Fiji

Paradise Tanager

Small, stunningly colorful tanager of Amazonian lowlands. Bright green head contrasts with red, blue, and black body. Sexes alike. Often quite common within its range. Found in the canopy of humid forest, often in mixed-species flocks. Likes to stay high in the canopy, but occasionally moves lower into the midstory, moving quickly between perches as it forages.

Link: https://ebird.org/species/partan1
Photo Location: Ecuador