Papuan Whipbird

A massive vulture with a bullish, naked, square head, a bulky bluish-yellow beak, and wrinkled loose skin (lappets) on the face. Adults have a brown-and-white streaked chest and puffy white leggings, while immatures are all-brown. In flight, the very broad wings, white leggings, and small white lines at the front of the wing are diagnostic. Rare and declining but widespread in open country; found in drier areas than other vultures. Aggressive at kills, dominating proceedings and opening the carcass for other scavengers.

A grayish bushshrike with green wings and tail and a unique head pattern: the black mask curls down to form a narrow black breast band surrounding the white throat. Some morphs have a purple dot at the base of the throat. Juvenile has less distinct face pattern than adult. A rare resident, restricted to a handful of sites in the Cameroon-Nigeria highlands, where it is found singly and in pairs in the canopy of primary hill forest between 930 and 1550 meters of elevation. Calls include an electric grating “cha-cha-cha-chggrrt-chggrrt-chggrrt” like a laser-gun sound effect in a computer game, as well as harsh croaking, whistles, and ticks. May snap wings when agitated. 

Quiet and inconspicuous in coniferous forests, especially where moss covers the ground. Typically seen on ground or along roadsides, but can perch fairly high in trees. On male, look for red eyebrow, dark chest, and bold white spotting on sides and belly. Female is browner and more intricately patterned; best distinguished from other grouse by short tail and strong bars and spots on underparts. Feeds mainly on conifer seeds. Often confiding, allowing good views. “Franklin’s” population, found from Idaho to British Columbia, might be a separate species. Tail pattern and male displays differ.