Ornate Melidectes

Rather stocky, all-dark ibis of wetlands and lakes in high Andes; also wanders to coastal lowlands, where can be locally numerous. Usually in small groups. Feeds by probing with its downcurved bill. Breeding adult has dark chestnut head and neck, and red face. Nonbreeding and immature have whitish streaking on head and neck, and duller face. In flight, feet project only a short distance beyond tail tip. Compare with more slender and long-legged White-faced Ibis, but no range overlap.

A medium-sized olive-gray honeyeater with an oval pale yellow cheek patch and a brown eye. Can be confused with Lewin’s Honeyeater and Graceful Honeyeater, but note the shape of the cheek patch: oval on Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, crescent shaped on Lewin’s Honeyeater, and circular on Graceful Honeyeater. Adult Yellow-spotted Honeyeaters also have a brown eye while Lewin’s and Graceful Honeyeaters have a paler blue gray eye. Listen for the loud repeated whistle of the Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, compared to the rapid staccato machine-gun call of Lewin’s and the more simple, single note call of Graceful Honeyeater. One of three easily confusable species found in far northern Queensland. Common in many wetter habitats at low elevation in wetter parts of northern Queensland.

Dazzling pitta of Borneo’s lowland dipterocarp forests. Midnight blue above and blinding scarlet below, with a dark head, bright blue wing coverts, and a glowing silver line trailing backwards behind the eye. Garnet Pitta is very similar but has a bright red crown; ranges barely overlap, if at all. Despite incandescent coloration, can be difficult to see as it forages in dense undergrowth; especially favors well-shaded gullies and gulches. Listen for its song, a pure ascending whistle which ends abruptly.