Chatham Islands Pigeon

A striking, large finch of high altitude rocky slopes. Note the dark crown, brown back and breast, and pink tones in wings and tail, which are easier to see in flight. Bill is heavy and yellowish. Flight call is a nasal "Chip-chip."

A strikingly four-colored tiny finch. Head pitch black, back rich brown, breast and belly pure white, bill thick and silver. In the eastern highlands of Papua New Guinea, belly is grayish-orange. Found in any open grassland, scrub, or plain. Other munias occur in the same areas, but Hooded’s bold color patterns make for simple identification. Most common call is a chorus of soft “peep” and “see” notes.

A fairly small, slim weaver with a chunky bill. Always shows a dark bill and eye. Breeding male is distinctive, with bright yellow overall plumage and a black mask that grades into chestnut at its edges. Females, non-breeding males, and juveniles are much duller, but show streaking on the back and pale underparts. Found mainly in wetlands, though the species will range into surrounding dry savanna. Almost always found in flocks. Plumages other than the breeding male’s can be hard to separate from other weavers, but can be cautiously identified by the dark bill and eye, fairly pale overall coloration, and size and shape. Vocalizations are typical of weavers: “chek” notes and a sizzling “radio static” song.