Louisiade Flowerpecker

Dicaeum nitidum

A tiny bird of forest canopy on the southeast islands of New Guinea. Medium gray above and pale gray below with whitish throat and yellowish belly. Large, bright red rump and small red crown patch. Male has glossy green wing and red chest patch. The female’s whitish throat extends to the chest. The only flowerpecker in range. Smaller and shorter-billed than a female Purple Sunbird. Song, a short, up-and-down, high-pitch melody.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Dicaeum nitidum
Authority
Tristram, 1889
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Dicaeidae
Genus
Dicaeum

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Bermuda Petrel

Bermuda Petrel

Pterodroma cahow

Endangered Atlantic Ocean seabird that nests on Bermuda and disperses widely when not breeding. Handsomely patterned with dark gray and white; note especially the gray on crown, nape, and face that extends unbroken down the sides of the neck in a cowl. The latter feature is usually lacking in the otherwise similar Black-capped Petrel; Bermuda Petrel also typically has a narrower white collar and less white on the rump. When not nesting, it can only be seen far from land, where it often flies in swooping arcs with little flapping. Locally known as “Cahow”, it very nearly went extinct in the mid-twentieth century, but was returned from the brink largely due to the heroic efforts of local conservationists.

Rufous-backed Inca-Finch

Rufous-backed Inca-Finch

Incaspiza personata

Beautiful finch-like bird with a small range in the Andes of northwestern Peru. Adult is gray with a chestnut back and wings and a black face and throat. The legs and bill are yellow; the white outer tail feathers are usually only evident in flight. Similar to Great Inca-Finch, but has a smaller black throat patch, a larger mask, and a brighter, less brownish back. Juvenile is washed out and streaky, showing only a hint of the face and throat markings. Inhabits arid areas with dense scrub, and feeds mainly on the ground.

Rufous-headed Woodpecker

Rufous-headed Woodpecker

Celeus spectabilis

This spectacular woodpecker is medium-sized with a rufous head, black-and-cream patterned body, and plain rufous wings. Sexes are similar, but males have a red mustache. Unlikely to be confused, although compare with the more common Ringed Woodpecker, which has a rufous (not cream-colored) back, a paler head, and black markings on the flight feathers. Also note Rufous-headed is a habitat specialist, most often found in stands of bamboo or cane, especially along large rivers. Rare and local, Rufous-headed is shy and usually requires specific effort to find.

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