Cloven-feathered Dove
Drepanoptila holosericea
Unique and spectacular large dove with a weird shape: fat with a short tail and lumpy head. Male bright green with a yellow belly and very long, even brighter yellow undertail coverts that nearly reach the tip of the tail. Note paler whitish bands on the wings and uppertail. Female mostly a slightly duller green than the male, with a faint echo of the same patterning. Typically found at mid to high levels in tall trees. Note far carrying voice: a prolonged, mournful series of low-pitched hoots, slightly higher-pitched and more drawn out than the song of New Caledonian Imperial-Pigeon.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Drepanoptila holosericea
- Authority
- (Temminck, 1809)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Drepanoptila
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The cloven-feathered dove is found commonly in primary and secondary moist forests up to 1,000 meters in elevation. It appears to prefer humid forests 400–600 meters in elevation, especially on the forest edge. However, there are little information of the bird's diet. All ornithologists have observed is that it does eat multiple different fruits and berries.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Chestnut-tailed Minla
Actinodura strigula
This brightly-colored social bird is a frequent attendant of mixed-species flocks. Relatively large size and combination of flashy colors and patterns scattered across its brownish body make this species unmistakable. Found in mid- to high-elevation wooded areas; prefers broadleaf and mixed evergreen forests. Gives a song of 3-4 sweet-sounding slurred whistles and a loud, squeaky call that sounds like a dog toy being stepped on.
Coscoroba Swan
Coscoroba coscoroba
A distinctive white swan with a bright, rather ducklike bill. The black wingtips are usually concealed when swimming. Most likely to be confused with white domestic waterfowl. Fairly common but sometimes local on lakes, slow-moving rivers, wetlands with open water, estuaries, and inshore coastal waters. Often in groups and associates readily with Black-necked Swan. Cygnets are dirty brownish with a black face mask, but young look much like adults within a month or two after hatching. Name comes from slightly gruff, honking “kós-ko roa” call.
Banded Honeyeater
Cissomela pectoralis
Small black-and-white honeyeater found in drier woodlands of northern tropical Australia. Black above, white below, with neat white cheeks and black breast band. Nonbreeding adult has brownish back. Immature has yellow cheeks and brown upperparts. Juvenile similar but even paler brown and has very indistinct breast band.
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