Black-crowned Barwing Actinodura sodangorum Scientific name definitions

24 cm. Long-tailed barwing, grey-headed with dark crown, densely barred on tail, rufous below with dark throat streaks, and with bold white eyering . Has lores black, central crown to mid-nape black , with some pointed whitish feathers at bill base and dull grey-edged black forehead feathers; cheek, ear-­coverts, crown side and nape slightly pink­ish-tinged dull grey with vague blackish streaks; upperparts dirty dull ochre; upperwing black, buff barring on coverts, narrow buff barring on outer webs of outer primaries and dull vague chestnut barring on outer webs of inner primaries; tail pale buffy ochre with narrow blackish bars, rufous-tinged basal fringes and narrow whitish tips; rich ochrous-rufous ­below, duller on rear flanks and thighs, duller and darker on vent, and with bold black streaking radiating from chin (including submoustachial area) onto throat; iris dark brown; bill horn, base of lower mandible slightly more pinkish; legs grey-horn. Differs from superficially similar A. ramsayi (of race yunnanensis) in having throat streaks bolder, crown and nape buff-tinged mid-grey with thick black cap breaking up as black streaks on nape and mantle, no rufescent tones on upperparts, tail more heavily barred, wings largely black, greater coverts with prominent buff-marked outer webs, flight feathers with tiny amount of chestnut at bases and only vestigial barring. Sexes similar. Juvenile undescribed.

E part of S Laos and adjacent C highlands of C Annam, in Vietnam.

No information on diet; presumably invertebrates and some vegetable matter. All sightings have been of single individuals or pairs, with one record of association with <em>Heterophasia desgodinsi</em> . When in forest, has typically been observed in canopy and feeding around tree boles and larger moss-covered branches.

Song begins hurriedly, becoming more clearly spaced and phrased at end, “tutututu’tu’tudi-duuu” or “tututututu’tu’tuee-tuuu”, presumed female occasionally adding low grumbling or whining “hwerrr’rr’rr” or “hwew-hwer” notes; similar to that of A. ramsayi.

Pair recorded in Apr performing an acrobatic courtship display and apparently copulating once. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened, downlisted from Vulnerable. Restricted-range species : present in Kontum Plateau Secondary Area (which now becomes a full EBA with discovery also of Trochalopteron ngoclinhense). Not uncommon but very local; known from only two areas, and assumed to have a small range and population. Presumably declining in response to widespread habitat loss and degra­dation, including shifting cultivation and road construction, across its projected range. May, however, prefer secondary and marginal forest habitats (as does A. ramsayi), and perhaps less seriously affected by deforestation. Occurs in Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve, boundaries of which were established in 1999, now the subject of a conservation project.