Macleay's Honeyeater

A large-headed and thick-billed sparrow, found exclusively in weedy grasslands with sparse shrubs. Distinctive color combination of olive-green nape, rufous wings, and crisp black streaks below. Also note large pinkish bill and flat crown. Singing males perch conspicuously in the breeding season; otherwise very secretive, especially in migration and winter. Populations declining sharply, perhaps due to pesticide use and destruction of native grasslands. Listen for its extremely short song, easy to pass off as an insect: “ts-lick.”

A medium-sized, black-and-white marine shag with a metallic green-and-blue glimmer on the black head and neck. Note the white wing patches. Breeding birds have a prominent crest, red facial skin, a red-orange throat pouch, and magenta-pink eye-rings. Nests and roosts colonially on steep cliffs and rock ledges. Non-breeding plumage fades to brown, and crest is absent. Juveniles have brown facial skin and upperparts. Endemic to the Auckland Islands and only found in shallow waters nearby. Only shag species regularly inhabiting the Auckland Islands.

A fairly large bird of lowland and foothill forest canopy. Mainly black plumage with yellow eye, belly and an orange-yellow bill with a thin yellow line leading down from the base. Also, white above and below the base of the tail and white wing patch noticeable in flight. Often found in flocks at fruiting trees and sometimes associates with Golden Myna. Similar to Golden Myna, especially in flight, but Yellow-faced Myna has yellow, bare facial skin around the eye, black chest and white rump. Voice, a nasal, froglike “gau-wak!”.