Tanimbar Eclectus

A rare and striking finch-like bird restricted to cloud forest of the Andes of Ecuador and southern Colombia. It is black with an olive breast and belly and a chestnut crown; the bold, white “spectacles” set it apart from any other bird in range. Sexes look alike. Typically encountered alone or in pairs; stays low, and usually remains in dense cover. Often first detected by its song, which consists of a series of sweet whistles and chirps; it sings faster and mixes in rapid trills when agitated.

Beautiful leaf-green pitta of New Guinea and surrounding islands. Like the other “Hooded-type” pittas with which it was formerly grouped, this species has a black head, powder-blue shoulder patch, and red on the lower belly and undertail. Birds on Numfor Island, off northwestern New Guinea, have a broad deep blue border to the red belly patch. Song is a simple, insistent-sounding “wui, wuii!” with a barking quality.

Small cisticola that is pale and buffy below, and dark on the back. The crown, back of the neck, and back are heavily streaked. Note specific habitat preferences, which can help with identification: found in seepage zones of seasonally wet grasslands, alongside but in wetter situations than Wing-snapping Cisticolas, but avoiding the seasonally flooded habitat of Pale-crowned Cisticola. Very similar to Wing-snapping and Pale-crowned Cisticolas, but longer-tailed than both, and further distinguished from Pale-crowned in breeding plumage by the streaked crown. Also similar to Zitting and Desert Cisticolas, but has a different voice, and is darker on the back. Song consists of nasal notes, given from a low perch (termite mound or grass stem) or occasional brief display flight at grass top height. In contrast to other small cisticolas, it does not have a true aerial display flight.