White-winged Triller
Encyclopedia
The White-winged Triller (Lalage tricolor) is one of the smaller members of the Cuckoo-shrike
family, Campephagidae. It is found throughout mainland Australia
and possibly on the islands to the north, including New Guinea
and eastern Indonesia
. It is resident or nomadic over the warmer part of its range (inland Australia and points north), and a summer breeding migrant
to the cooler southern parts of Australia.
White-winged Trillers are fairly common in woodland, and open scrub through most of their range, and close to riverbeds in the central arid zone. The conspicuous male bird—black above and white below in breeding plumage—trills cheerfully through much of the day during the breeding season (mid-spring to early summer), frequently rising on fluttering wings in song flight.
The female is similarly patterned but in dull fawns and white. In the non-breeding season, male birds appear similar to the female, retaining blackish feathers only on the wings and tail.
Typically 16 to 18 cm long, White-winged Trillers eat a variety of insects, which are taken on the ground, from in foliage, or in the air.
The correct classification of the White-winged Triller and its close northern relative, the White-shouldered Triller
(Lalage sueurii) of Eastern Indonesia is uncertain. Some authorities regard them as two races of a single species
, in which case the White-winged Triller becomes Lalage sueurii tricolor.
Cuckoo-shrike
The cuckooshrikes and allies in the Campephagidae family are small to medium-sized passerine bird species found in the subtropical and tropical Africa, Asia and Australasia...
family, Campephagidae. It is found throughout mainland Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and possibly on the islands to the north, including New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
and eastern Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. It is resident or nomadic over the warmer part of its range (inland Australia and points north), and a summer breeding migrant
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
to the cooler southern parts of Australia.
White-winged Trillers are fairly common in woodland, and open scrub through most of their range, and close to riverbeds in the central arid zone. The conspicuous male bird—black above and white below in breeding plumage—trills cheerfully through much of the day during the breeding season (mid-spring to early summer), frequently rising on fluttering wings in song flight.
The female is similarly patterned but in dull fawns and white. In the non-breeding season, male birds appear similar to the female, retaining blackish feathers only on the wings and tail.
Typically 16 to 18 cm long, White-winged Trillers eat a variety of insects, which are taken on the ground, from in foliage, or in the air.
The correct classification of the White-winged Triller and its close northern relative, the White-shouldered Triller
White-shouldered Triller
The White-shouldered Triller is a passerine bird belonging to the triller genus Lalage in the cuckoo-shrike family Campephagidae. It is found in Indonesia and East Timor. The White-winged Triller The White-shouldered Triller (Lalage sueurii) is a passerine bird belonging to the triller genus...
(Lalage sueurii) of Eastern Indonesia is uncertain. Some authorities regard them as two races of a single species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, in which case the White-winged Triller becomes Lalage sueurii tricolor.
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