Little Thornbird vs Plain Thornbird

Little Thornbird

Phacellodomus sibilatrix

Small16 gWoodland

The little thornbird is 13 to 14 cm (5.1 to 5.5 in) long and weighs about 14 to 16 g (0.49 to 0.56 oz). It is the smallest member of its genus. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a wide dull buff-whitish supercilium that extends beyond the eye and an indistinct dull brown stripe behind the eye on an otherwise light brownish face. Their forehead is light rufous with pale streaks, their crown and back dull brown, and their rump and uppertail coverts rufescent-tinged brown. Their wings are mostly shades of brown with darker brown primary coverts and some rufescence. Voice: The little thornbird's song is "a duetted series of sharp, piercing, loud and straight tee tee tees, where one bird goes faster than the other (three notes for two) so the effect is a tee teeter tee teeter teeter tee tee teeter...". Its call is "a sharp 'chip', often repeated".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recorded by Capovilla Pablo H · Call · Capivara, San Cristóbal, Santa Fe, Argentina · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Nicolas Olejnik · CC BY 4.0

Plain Thornbird

Phacellodomus inornatus

Small25 gShrubland

The plain thornbird is 16 to 17 cm (6.3 to 6.7 in) long and weighs about 20 to 31 g (0.71 to 1.1 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a dull brown stripe behind the eye on an otherwise pale buff-brown face. Their crown and upperparts are dull brown. Their wings are mostly dull brown with darker brown primary coverts and some rufescence. Their tail is dull brown. Their throat is pale and the rest of their underparts are mostly dirty buff-white. Voice: The plain thornbird's song is "a bright, chippery and energetic series of loud 'chit' or 'chee' notes, often given in duet, which accelerates slightly, before gradually slowing and dropping in pitch" and is frequently repeated. Its calls include "a sharp 'chip' or 'chek, or a metallic 'tsi' ".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: no rights reserved · CC0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Little Thornbird and Plain Thornbird.