Orange-eyed Thornbird vs Plain Thornbird

Orange-eyed Thornbird

Phacellodomus erythrophthalmus

Small25 gWetland

The orange-eyed thornbird is 16 to 18 cm (6.3 to 7.1 in) long and weighs about 21 to 27 g (0.74 to 0.95 oz). It is a medium-sized thornbird. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have an indistinct rufous-brown supercilium, darker brown lores, and a darker brown stripe behind the eye on an otherwise rufescent-brownish face. Their forehead and forecrown are bright rufous. The rest of their crown, their back, and their rump are dark brownish olive, and their uppertail coverts a chestnut-tinged brownish olive. Voice: The orange-eyed thornbird's song is a "slow, descending series of up to 15 sharp, ringing tones". It has also been described as "a series of introductory notes on same pitch followed by descending series of loud notes, 'chree, chree, chree-tsrééeh-tsrééeh-tsrééeh' ". It is usually sung from a perch and sometimes as a duet by a pair.

ID text from Wikipedia, 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: Orange-eyed Thornbird and Plain Thornbird.