Graceful Honeyeater
Meliphaga gracilis
A small olive-gray honeyeater with a circular pale yellow cheek patch and a relatively fine bill. Can be confused with Lewin’s Honeyeater and Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, but note the shape of the cheek patch: crescent-shaped on Lewin’s Honeyeater and oval on Yellow-spotted Honeyeater. Adults also have a blue-gray eye while Lewin’s has a bluish eye and Yellow-spotted has a brown eye. Found on the Cape York Peninsula and southern New Guinea.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Meliphaga gracilis
- Authority
- (Gould, 1866)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Meliphagidae
- Genus
- Meliphaga
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Least Boobook
Ninox sumbaensis
A rufous-brown owl with yellow eyes, prominent white eyebrows, and mottled underparts. Juvenile reportedly redder-colored and plainer. Inhabits forested lower foothills, regularly in pairs. A recently described, little-known owl confined to Sumba. Smaller than Sumba Boobook, and separated by yellow eyes, lack of bands on the underparts, and markedly different voice. Song is a single “woop” note, often given as a duet. One sex calls with a higher pitch than the other.
Papuan Dwarf-Kingfisher
Ceyx solitarius
A tiny kingfisher of lowland and foothill forest interior. Deep, cobalt blue head and wings with eye-catching paler blue patch on the back and pale orange belly. White throat and ear patch, with pale buff spot behind the bill. Flies overhead like a blue, speeding bullet. Devilishly difficult to see. Similar to Azure Kingfisher, but Papuan Dwarf-Kingfisher is smaller, lacks the blue on the sides of the chest and isn’t associated with water. Voice, high-pitched “cheep!” calls.
Adelie Penguin
Pygoscelis adeliae
The “classic” penguin, black above and white below. Also note stubby reddish bill and white eyering. Adults have an all-dark throat, whereas juveniles have a mostly white one. Largely restricted to Antarctica and its adjacent islands. Often rests on icebergs. Breeds in massive colonies, often favoring rocky areas. Gives hoarse barking, grunting, and braying calls, especially when at the colony.
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