Vogelkop Bowerbird
Amblyornis inornata
A common bowerbird of montane forest on the Bird’s Head and Neck of New Guinea. Stocky with drab brown plumage. Unlike other related species, the male lacks a crest and resembles the female. Most easily observed at the bower; a spectacular tent-shaped construction which it adorns the front of with colorful objects. No other drab-colored bowerbirds co-occur, and the female Masked Bowerbird has a yellow rather than brown belly and is found at lower elevations. Voice, various loud buzzes, shrieks and squawks.
Identification
The birds are about 21–35 cm in length, with the females being slightly smaller. They are mainly olive brown in colour, though somewhat paler below, without ornamental plumage. This makes the species one of the dullest-coloured members of the bowerbird family with, however, one of the largest and most elaborate bowers.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Amblyornis inornata
- Authority
- (Schlegel, 1871)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Ptilonorhynchidae
- Genus
- Amblyornis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Cinereous Ground-Tyrant
Muscisaxicola cinereus
Rather plain but “gentle-faced” and attractive, this small terrestrial flycatcher breeds locally in the high Andes, with southern populations migrating north in winter. Favors rocky slopes, valleys, and adjacent bogs, where it mixes readily with other ground-tyrant species. Head and back plain blue-gray with a short weak whitish eyebrow, no colored cap markings, and an “average” straight bill (droop-tipped on Rufous-naped Ground-Tyrant). Also note no strong contrast between gray back and wings.
Striped Cuckoo
Tapera naevia
Long-tailed, fairly small cuckoo of tropical lowlands, rarely seen unless singing its loud and far-carrying song, usually from a fence or other low perch. Most of the time it is furtive, feeding on or near the ground in dense growth. Found in scrubby woodland and edge, overgrown weedy fields, and thickets, often with dense grasses. Note the striped upperparts and plain buffy underparts. While singing it often raises and lowers its dark crest.
Sulphur-bearded Reedhaunter
Limnoctites sulphuriferus
Distinctive spinetail with a yellow chin and dark brown patches on otherwise cinnamon wings. Has a well-marked white eyebrow and white underparts streaked gray. Occurs in marshes with tall emergent reedy vegetation. The song starts with a trill, followed by a series of harsh notes: “d-d-d-r-r-i-i-, dirip, dirip, dirip, drip-drip-dreeuw-dreeuw.”
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