New Guinea Bronzewing

Henicophaps albifrons

A large, distinctive pigeon of lowland and montane forest. Long bill, white forehead and dark reddish neck. Metallic bronze, green and blue bands in the wing. Feeds on the forest floor and perches upright on a branch, bobbing its head. Shy and difficult to see. Thick-billed Ground-Pigeon is a similar size but has a white cheek rather than forehead and lacks iridescence in the wing. Voice, a repeated series of rapid, upslurred “woop” notes.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Henicophaps albifrons
Authority
Gray, GR, 1862
Order
Columbiformes
Family
Columbidae
Genus
Henicophaps

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Pacific Parakeet

Pacific Parakeet

Psittacara strenuus

Fairly large, all-green parakeet (occasionally has a few orange flecks on head and neck) with stout pale bill and pointed tail. Favors tropical forests and plantations, where often occurs in fairly large flocks. Not readily separated in the field from Green Parakeet except by assumptions based on range: Pacific occurs in Pacific lowlands of Chiapas and northern Central America, whereas Green occurs in interior valleys of Chiapas. Larger than Orange-fronted Parakeet with plain head pattern and no blue in the wings.

Ambon White-eye

Ambon White-eye

Zosterops kuehni

A small songbird with a conspicuous white eye-ring, a green face and upperparts, a bright yellow throat, a white belly, and a yellow base to the undertail. Pairs and small groups occur in the lowlands in forest, edge, sparsely wooded areas, and gardens. Restricted to Ambon, except for a few records from Seram. Separated from Warbling and Lemon-bellied White-eyes by its white belly, and from Seram White-eye by its green face and forecrown. Song comprises a rapid, pleasant warble. Also gives penetrating “tzew” notes.

Red-capped Plover

Red-capped Plover

Anarhynchus ruficapillus

Small energetic plover with a fine bill, white underparts, and pale gray back. Lacks breast band. Adult has an obvious rusty-red cap, whereas juvenile has varying reddish tinges on the back of the head. Occurs beside a wide variety of saline wetlands where it moves quickly as it forages along the ground. Common around inland lakes as well as at the coast.

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