Makira Cicadabird

A small cuckoo of montane rainforest. Compact with a pale rufous throat and underparts with broad dark bands on a white background all the way to the tail. Sits motionless for long periods scanning for insect prey but sometimes joins mixed species flocks. Co-occurs with White-eared Bronze-Cuckoo but Rufous-throated lacks the white ear crescents and of course has the rufous throat. Voice, high piping notes, either level “peep!” or falling “piuu!” given singly or in a series.

Large, plump finch of the boreal forest. Adult males are pink overall with two white wingbars and pale gray highlights. Immature males and females are not so bright but still subtly pretty; gray body with olive, yellow, or burnt-orange head and rump. Stubby bill with rounded edges. Song consists of rich, mellow warbles; listen for musical flight calls. Breeds in open coniferous forests. Winters in a variety of wooded habitats, especially around fruiting trees including crabapple and mountain ash. Often extremely tame, allowing close approach.

A small brownish bird with gray head, black throat, narrow black lores, very long black tail, and either a red bill (Northern Territory) or pale yellow bill (Western Australia). Note white rump in flight. Juveniles similar but duller, with dark bill. Compare with Masked Finch, which has black mask and lacks gray head. Inhabits grasslands and grassy woodlands across northwestern Australia.