Dusky Megapode

Megapodius freycinet

A uniformly blackish-brown megapode with a crested head. A bird of lowland forest, most often seen foraging on the ground singly or in pairs. Where it overlaps with Moluccan Scrubfowl, note the uniform dark coloration of Dusky Scrubfowl, lacking any upperpart markings. Crested head and lack of facial wattles in Dusky Scrubfowl differentiate it from Waigeo Brush-Turkey. Frequently given song is a loud rising whistle “keey-keey,” sometimes followed by a softer, descending, wavering “kwolooooor.” Pairs often duet.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Megapodius freycinet
Authority
Gaimard, 1823
Order
Galliformes
Family
Megapodiidae
Genus
Megapodius

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Black Swift

Black Swift

Cypseloides niger

Large swift with long, angular, and pointed wings. Entirely black, sometimes with faint pale scaling on belly and forehead. Often fans tail in flight. Seen singly or in small flocks, usually in hilly or mountainous areas. Breeds on cliffs, often behind waterfalls. Slower wingbeats than other swifts. Chattering call notes lower-pitched than other swifts in range.

Dayak Blue Flycatcher

Dayak Blue Flycatcher

Cyornis montanus

A medium-sized flycatcher with strikingly different male and female plumages. Male is beautifully colored, with deep blue upperparts, mostly orange underparts, and a white belly. Female is much duller, with a grayish head, gray-brown wings, a rufous tail, and rufous underparts. Scarce and local in the understory of hill forest. Song is jumble of melodious warbling and whistling notes. The calls are loud “chek” or “sit” notes, and are often mixed into the song. Similar to Bornean Blue Flycatcher, but darker, especially on the belly (in both sexes) and back (in the male). Also similar to Sunda Blue Flycatcher, but darker overall and shorter-billed. Dayak Blue Flycatcher is further distinguished by the less extensive black chin patch of the male and the rufous rather than blue tail of the female.

Rufous-bellied Thrush

Rufous-bellied Thrush

Turdus rufiventris

Large thrush found commonly in open woodlands, savannas, agricultural areas, urban parks, gardens where it spends a lot of time foraging on the ground. It has an olive-brown back and breast with an orange belly and a paler streaked throat. Note the yellow eyering. The song, which varies among regions, is usually long and quite monotonous.

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