New Guinea Megapode
Megapodius decollatus
A dark scrubfowl of lowland and foothill forest. Dark, sooty gray underparts and neck, dark brown back and wings, dark legs, reddish face or throat, yellowish bill and an obvious pointy crest at the back of the head. Very adept at scraping and digging with its large feet. Defends its nest mound by kicking material over potential nest predators. Vocal with yelping, parrotlike calls. Much smaller than Red-legged Brushturkey and New Guinea Scrubfowl has dark legs.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Megapodius decollatus
- Authority
- Oustalet, 1878
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Megapodiidae
- Genus
- Megapodius
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
White-browed Fulvetta
Fulvetta vinipectus
Chunky fulvetta of scrubby, stunted subalpine forests. Striking and unmistakable, with orange-suffused wings, a dark crown, and a bright white throat and brow. Moves through low vegetation in large flocks, sometimes with other species. Song consists of an ear-piercingly high pair of notes followed by a brief sputter. Calls include trills, chatters, and whistles.
Black-throated Grosbeak
Saltator fuliginosus
A largely grayish grosbeak found in the middle to upper levels of humid and montane forests. Males are slaty-blue overall with a black face and throat contrasting with a bright red bill. Females are duller and lack the black face, but have a bright red bill. The song is a melodic series of whistles.
Small-billed Elaenia
Elaenia parvirostris
A fairly small and very dull-looking flycatcher. Grayish brown above and whitish below with a thin white eyering, three pale wingbars, and pinkish base to the bill. Note the round head with only a very slight crested appearance. Found in woodlands and edges up to around 1,200 m. Breeds from southern Brazil to central Argentina, migrating north in the austral winter to far northern South America. Extremely similar to White-crested Elaenia, which tends to show a less obvious eyering and has only two wingbars. Note vocalizations, which include a slightly burry “wh’eer” call, a fast complex “tweedle-twee,” and single “pip” notes.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.