Seram Oriole
Oriolus forsteni
A dull, entirely olive-brown oriole with a pale collar and a conspicuous dark face. Singles or pairs can be found in forest and forest edge in the lowlands and foothills, being more abundant lower down. Restricted to Seram. Occurs alongside the similar Seram Friarbird, but is marginally smaller, lacks any naked skin around the eye, and shows a more rounded head shape with a steeper forehead and a heavier, blunter-tipped bill. Gives a fluty call, “p’p’p’p’POW!”, building with a first set of rapid, softer notes followed by an explosive note.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Oriolus forsteni
- Authority
- (Bonaparte, 1850)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Oriolidae
- Genus
- Oriolus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Sula Cicadabird
Edolisoma sula
A small, slender-billed, mostly slate-gray cuckooshrike that shows extensive pale edgings on the wing feathers. Male has a black face and throat, while on females, black is limited to the area between the bill and eye. Singles, pairs, or groups can be found in wooded areas, plantations, and scrub from sea level to foothills. Confined to the Sula Islands. Smaller and more slender-billed than Slaty and Black-faced Cuckooshrikes. Male is darker overall than Black-faced Cuckooshrike, with no white tail tip and a less distinct black face mask, and black does not extend onto breast. Gives an upslurred nasal “whirrt” as well as “pik” notes.
Jungle Owlet
Glaucidium radiatum
Squat little owl with dense barring all over the body. Lacks the false eyes on the back of the head possessed by many other owlets. Gives bursts of loud hollow trills, comparable to barbets, as well as a mellow “kaaaooo-kaaaaooo-kah-ow!” A forest species, found in densely wooded areas in lowlands and foothills. Most active at dawn and dusk.
Solomons Frogmouth
Rigidipenna inexpectata
A bizarre-looking nocturnal bird with large bulging eyes. Brown or rufous in color with barred tail and wing feathers and white-blotched wings. Camouflage is exceptional. Rarely encountered, but recorded from sea level up to 700 meters of elevation. Superficially similar to Solomons Nightjar but unlikely to be confused. Reported to give a series of whistles rising or descending in pitch, but vocally poorly known.
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