White-throated jungle flycatcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-throated jungle flycatcher |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Vauriella
|
| Species: |
albigularis
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Rhinomyias albigularis |
|
The white-throated jungle flycatcher (Vauriella albigularis), also called the Negros jungle flycatcher, is a small bird. It belongs to a group of birds known as Old World flycatchers.
This special bird lives only in the Philippines. You can find it on Negros and Panay islands. It used to live on Guimaras island too, but it's not there anymore. These birds like to live in warm, wet forests. They can be found in lowland forests and mountain forests up to 1,350 meters high. Sadly, this bird is in danger because it is losing its home.
This bird was once placed in a different group called Rhinomyias. But after scientists studied its DNA, they moved it to the Vauriella group.
Contents
What Does the White-throated Jungle Flycatcher Look Like?
This bird is quite small. Its wings, back, and tail are a reddish-brown color. Its head is gray, and its belly has pale streaks. It also has a black face and a black stripe that looks like a mustache.
You might often see these birds with other types of birds. They are a bit like the Stripe-headed rhabdornis and Grand rhabdornis. But the white-throated jungle flycatcher is smaller. It has a white ring around its eye, not a black band. Its voice includes a loud rattling sound and quiet chirps.
Where Does This Bird Live?
This flycatcher lives in tropical forests. It prefers wet lowland forests and the lower parts of mountain forests. Usually, it lives below 1,000 meters above sea level. However, it has been seen as high as 1,350 meters.
It likes old, untouched forests the most. But it can also live in forests that have grown back. You might also find it at the edge of forests. It looks for food in the lower parts of the forest. It usually stays below 10 meters off the ground.
Why Is This Bird in Danger?
The IUCN Red List says this bird is an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. Scientists think there are only about 2,500 to 10,000 adult birds left.
The biggest threat to this bird is habitat loss. This means its forest home is being destroyed. Negros island, where many of these birds live, has lost a lot of its forests. This is due to illegal logging and forests being cleared for sugarcane farms. In 1988, only about 4% of Negros and 8% of Panay still had forests. Most of these remaining forests were high up in the mountains.
How Can We Help This Bird?
People are working to protect the white-throated jungle flycatcher. Here are some ideas:
- More Surveys: We need to explore more, especially on Panay island. This will help us understand where the birds live and how many there are.
- Protect Forests: We need stronger rules to protect the forests that are left. This includes getting more money to hire forest rangers. These rangers can help stop illegal logging.
