North Island Saddleback
Philesturnus rufusater
A medium-sized songbird endemic to New Zealand, confined to predator-free offshore islands and North Island mainland sanctuaries. Glossy black plumage with distinct chestnut saddle across the back, which gives the bird its name. Note the bright reddish-orange wattles on either side of the bill. Juveniles lack the shine in plumage and show dusty brown tips to the black body feathers and smaller wattles. The species is often heard before it is seen, with loud vocalizations resembling a blaring “cheet te-te-te-te.” Constantly moves noisily as it restlessly forages on the floor and through the canopy. Flicks over leaves and digs into rotting logs with its strong bill in search of invertebrates. Distinguished from Eurasian Blackbird by chestnut saddle and wattles.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Philesturnus rufusater
- Authority
- (Lesson, RP, 1828)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Callaeidae
- Genus
- Philesturnus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-lined Antbird
Myrmoborus lophotes
Large antbird of bamboo stands in river edge forest. Males are dark gray with bright white wing bars and a darker blackish crest that is raised when agitated; females appear two-toned: orange above, with creamy white face and underparts. Both sexes have a red eye. Primarily found in bamboo, but occasionally found in other dense habitats, like cane thickets and heliconias along streams. Song is a descending, accelerating series of whistled notes, with a noticeable gap between the first note and the rest; “TEW … tew, tew, tew, tewtutututu”.
Eastern Parotia
Parotia helenae
A fairly large, short-tailed bird of mid-montane forest canopy. Male is mainly black with a bronzy-scaled chest and 6 antennalike feathers projecting from the back of the head. Note the blue eyes. The female is warm-brown above with barred underparts and a black head. The male has an elaborate dance at a terrestrial display court. Females are similar to female lophorinas, but are larger and lack a pale eyebrow stripe. The vocalizations are poorly known, but likely include various rasps and parrotlike squawks.
Philippine Magpie-Robin
Copsychus mindanensis
A common medium-sized bird of open forest, scrub, and gardens from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains. Male has black upperparts, throat, and chest, a white belly, and a prominent white mark in the wing. In the female, the black parts are replaced by gray, except for the wing, which remains black. Similar in size and color to Philippine Pied-Fantail, but has a white mark in the wing. Song is a pleasant, medium-pitched warbling. Also gives a short descending scratchy song, harsh rasping notes, or a pulsing, downslurred “chew! chew! chew!”
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