Black Honey-buzzard
Henicopernis infuscatus
A distinctive raptor confined to New Britain. Entirely blackish-brown with indistinct dark markings and a beady pale eye. In flight appears long-tailed and broad-winged, with well-pronounced “fingers” on the outer wing; from below, note bold white bars on the tail, outermost wing feathers, and trailing edge of the wings. Juveniles resemble adults. Found in forest from lowlands to hills. Unmistakable in its limited range, where no other similar raptors occur. Call consists of a series of upslurred whistles, rapidly gaining in pace.
Identification
The black honey buzzard is a dark grey-brown colour with pale silvery bars on the wings and tail. When perched, the wing and tail bars are clearly visible. In flight, the wing bars are notable and the wing shape is distinctive, with a narrow base and broad tips, and bulging outer primaries. Juvenile markings are unknown. Its height ranges 48–52 cm (19–20 in), and wingspan ranges 110–115 cm (43–45 in).<p>It was first identified and catalogued among European natural historians by James Sligo Jameson in 1877.
Taxonomy
The black honey buzzard belongs within the subfamily Perninae, in the family Accipitridae. The family Acipitridae contains two subfamilies of kites: Elaninae and Perninae. Birds within Perninae lack the bony eye shield that characterizes those in Elaninae, and are mainly found in the tropics where they are specialized to feed on insects, bee and wasp larvae.<p>The genus Henicopernis contains only two species: The black honey buzzard and the long-tailed honey buzzard (Henicopernis longicauda). The Australo-Papuan region, which encompasses Australia and Papua New Guinea, has many endemic species since the region was isolated from other land masses for millions of years. These include three closely related genera of the family Accipitridae: Henicopernis, Hamirostra and Lophoictinia.
- Scientific name
- Henicopernis infuscatus
- Authority
- Gurney, JH Sr, 1882
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Genus
- Henicopernis
Range and habitat
The black honey buzzard occurs on the island of New Britain, part of the Bismarck archipelago in Papua New Guinea. Its habitat consists of primary rainforest, usually in hilly areas. Its altitudinal range extends up to 1,300 m (4,300 ft). The population is estimated to be between 6000 and 15 000 mature individuals.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Its vocalizations consist of 12 piping notes, accelerating and shortening over about three seconds.<p>The diet is largely unknown, but it is assumed that it is similar to that of the long-tailed honey buzzard, which typically feeds on arthropods, lizards, birds and birds’ eggs.<p>The black honey buzzard is unobtrusive, and is seldom sighted due to its shy nature. Although the generation length has not been studied directly, it is estimated to be approximately 10 years, based on that of two similar-sized raptors: The square-tailed kite (Lophoictinia isura) and the red goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus).
Conservation
The black honey buzzard is highly dependent on primary forest, where it nests and feeds. This species is estimated to have lost 12.5% of the primary forest within its range between the years 1990 and 2000. The island of New Britain has experienced considerable deforestation due to logging, as well as land use change as forested areas are converted to small-scale agricultural operations and oil palm plantations. In 2004, West New Britain province accounted for over 50% of Papua New Guinea's timber exports. However, a great deal of the species’ range is on steep and montane areas which are not suitable for logging or oil palm production.<p>The black honey buzzard is classified as vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This classification is primarily due to the continuing decline the area of available habitat.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Drab Whistler
Pachycephala griseonota
A thick-billed, sparrow-sized songbird. The distinctive Obi form, sometimes considered a separate species, has a cinnamon underside and a olive-brown upperside, and females have streaked throats. Elsewhere, Drab Whistlers show grayish-brown upperparts with a variable underside: in the north Moluccas and Sula, a white throat, a soft gray chest band, and a whitish belly; in Buru, Seram, and Kai, a buffier belly and no chest band. In the Kai islands, females have streaked throats. Juveniles everywhere but Obi resemble females. Found singly in canopy of forests and wooded areas, from lowlands into foothills. Differs from female Black-chinned and Yellow-throated Whistlers in grayer upperparts and lack of yellow underparts. Variable songs include piping “chew-chew-chew-chew-chew-chong,” an ascending “chew-weeee,” and a “kwik-kwik-kwik-kwik…”.
Sangkar White-eye
Zosterops melanurus
Typical-looking white-eye, with bright yellowish upperparts and bright white “spectacles.” Recently split from Oriental White-eye, to which it may still be referred to as in older literature. Throughout most of its range, this species has a yellow belly, but birds in the far western corner of Java have gray bellies. The only “classic white-eye” throughout much of its range; in areas of overlap with other species, Sangkar’s combination of dark eyes and a prominent dark stripe between the eye and bill base serve to identify it. Found in lowland and foothill forests, forest edges, gardens, and plantations. Calls include bright, descending “deee, deee.” Song is jumbled and high-pitched, and has made this species a sought-after target in the cagebird trade; as such, it is now uncommon or rare in certain areas of otherwise suitable habitat.
Black-and-white Triller
Lalage melanoleuca
A medium-sized bird of lowland and foothill forest canopy. Has a black tail with white corners, black wings with a large white patch, and a white rump. Male has a black crown and back and entirely white underparts. Females have a gray crown and back. Northern females have white underparts with a barred throat and chest, while southern females have a gray throat and chest with faint barring below. Similar to Pied Triller, but lacks the white brow and is found in forest rather than open habitats. Song consists of a 1- to 3-syllabled whistled phrase repeated 5-20 times in a row.
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