New Guinea Megapode

Local and often rather wary dove of fairly open coastal habitats, such as beach dunes with desert scrub, overgrown fields, town edges. Resembles widespread Mourning Dove of North America, but slightly stockier, with a shorter and squared tail. Feeds on the ground, but most often seen in flight, which is fast and direct, usually rather low over the treetops. Best field mark is the white trailing edge to the inner part of the wing, usually quite distinct in flight.

Small finch-like bird of lowland rainforest. Male is glossy navy blue with a deep red-orange belly, fairly distinctive in its range; female is golden with gray wash on the head, back, and belly, and orange-red undertail coverts. Females similar to females of Orange-bellied Euphonia, but usually have deeper orange or red undertail coverts (not yellow). Found in humid forests, where often one of the most common euphonias. Frequently heard giving a rapid, deep chatter “chree-chree-chree-chree.”

Incandescently beautiful male is resplendent in electric blue and snowy white. Female is dull gray-brown with paler underparts. Slight regional variation: “Western” males have a short white eyebrow and “Eastern” females have a faint rusty patch on the forehead. Male may be confused with Himalayan Bluetail, but lacks orange. Female is similar to females of Slaty-blue and Little Pied Flycatchers, but lacks any rufous tones on the tail. Breeds in hill and montane broadleaf and pine forests; descends into lower foothills in winter. Rarely heard song a complex series of whistles and chatters; more commonly heard is the call, a dry trilling chatter, sometimes preceded by a short whistle.