ML541123601
Bidragsyter
Dato
Lokalitet
- Age and sex
- Adult, Unknown sex - 2
- Lyder
- Lokkelyd
- Lydavspilling
- Ikke spesifisert
Kommentarer
The tetrakas were very vocal while I observed them. All calls were similar to these. Recorded with my phone using Merlin Sound ID app. I wish I had a microphone!
Observasjonsdetaljer
I spent ca. 40 minutes watching a pair of Dusky Tetrakas foraging along the river edge around 150 east (downstream) of our camp at Antegnarano (located at the intersection of the two streams visible on satellite images). I was first alerted to tetrakas when they started alarm calling in response to a ring-tailed vontsira (Galidia elegans) that was walking along the water's edge. The tetrakas stayed low to the ground (going to a maximum of around 2m above the ground) and within about 10m of the edge of the water. The moved quickly around in the understory. I described them as "hyperactive" in my notes for the day. These birds were about 100m upriver from where I encountered the pair yesterday and I imagine were likely the same individuals. They eventually flew across the river (or large stream depending on how you look at it) and I lost them in thick undergrowth on the opposite bank as they headed downstream in the direction of yesterday's sighting. I had anticipated that this species would be difficult to separate from Spectacled Tetraka but when I saw these birds in the field several things were immediately obvious: 1) Different behavior. Dusky always stayed close to or on the ground in the gloomy understory rather than in the mid-story. I even observed one go into a small cave under a rock to look for food. This semi-terrestrial foraging reminded me a bit of a Troglodytes wren in terms of behavior. 2) Different shape. Notably short tail and long strong legs. Also surprisingly obvious was the relatively large eye when compared to Spectacled Tetraka. 3) Darker overall plumage, particularly on the upperparts and breastband which contrasted sharply with the bright yellow throat, eyering and surprisingly bright orangey-colored bill. In the dark understory the yellow throat, broken eyering and bill really stood out. 4) Different vocalizations. I only heard the Duskys make one type of call. A series of high-pitched notes which they repeated often (see attached recording). Following this observation we set mist-nets at this location and netted one individual a couple of hours later (photos included). In collaboration with Lily-Arison Rene de Roland, Loukman Kalavah and the Peregrine Fund's Madagascar program as part of the Search for Lost Birds.
Teknisk informasjon
- Opptaker
- iPhone 14
- Mikrofon
- Tilbehør
- Original file size
- 5.97 MB