Biak Coucal

Centropus chalybeus

A poorly known, mid-sized coucal endemic to Biak island. All black plumage, distinctive yellow iris, straightish bill and a fierce-looking face. Found in dense forest and secondary habitat at all levels and devilishly difficult to see. The only coucal species found on Biak. Vaguely similar to Torresian Crown, but Biak Coucal is more skulking with longer tail. Quite vocal and heard far more often than seen. Call, a series of deep, upDslurred “wup!” notes given at varying speeds.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Centropus chalybeus
Authority
(Salvadori, 1876)
Order
Cuculiformes
Family
Cuculidae
Genus
Centropus

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Bay-capped Wren-Spinetail

Bay-capped Wren-Spinetail

Spartonoica maluroides

Small, with a long spiky tail. Has a brown-streaked black back contrasting with a cinnamon crown and pale underparts. Note the pale eyebrow. Found in well-vegetated marshes and wet areas with tall grass. The song is an insect-like buzzy trill.

Yellow-browed Antbird

Yellow-browed Antbird

Hypocnemis hypoxantha

Rather small antbird with a disjunct distribution. Males have a yellow face and underparts with a black crown, eye-line, and streaks on the breast. Females have a yellow streaked crown.  Southeastern subspecies has ochraceous lower underparts. Song is a descending and decelerating series of fluted notes becoming harsher at the end. Found in the understory of humid forests, often in areas of transitional forest or poor soils. Rarely accompanies mixed-species flocks. The similar Spix's and Peruvian Warbling-Antbirds have white breasts, and the song of Peruvian is somewhat slower-paced.

Cory's Shearwater

Cory's Shearwater

Calonectris borealis

Large, lumbering shearwater. Diagnostic yellow bill is often visible from quite a long distance. Look for warm pale brown upperparts and clean white belly and underwings. Also note little contrast between the brown head and white throat (compare with distinct capped appearance of Great Shearwater). Lazier wingbeats than other large shearwaters, especially in calm conditions; wings look crooked with wrists pushed forward in flight. Forms mixed flocks with other shearwaters, especially when feeding. Fairly common in warm water in the Atlantic Ocean; increasingly frequent in cooler water, ranging further northward in recent years. Very similar to closely related and recently split Scopoli’s Shearwater. Can be identified with caution, and often by analysis of photographs, by the solidly dark outer part of the underwing.

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