Ring-necked Francolin
Scleroptila streptophora
Medium-sized, elaborately patterned francolin. There is a striped head, a rufous nape, a white throat, and a band of black-and-white stripes around the neck. Shows at most a hint of rufous in the wings in flight. Found on the ground in grassy, open woodland. Shy, poorly known, and highly localized species. Distinctive call is a mournful series of several hollow notes that first go up, then descend. Somewhat similar to Coqui Francolin, but larger, with a different pattern below: mostly plain with a few bold streaks on the sides of the belly. Also similar to Red-winged Francolin, but has a cleaner white throat, lacks large red patches in the wings, and has a different pattern on the underparts.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Scleroptila streptophora
- Authority
- (Ogilvie-Grant, 1891)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Scleroptila
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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Anas aucklandica
Small, flightless dark brown duck, endemic to New Zealand. Males have green iridescence on head, dark chestnut-colored breast, and lightly barred flanks. Females are uniformly dark brown. Both sexes have distinct white eye-ring. Confined to the Auckland islands, where it occurs on all major islands except the main Auckland Island. Found on sheltered shorelines rummaging through windblown kelp piles. Also found on streams with adequate cover of tussock and sedges. Males give a soft trill as an alarm or territorial call. Females give a growl and a rapid quack. Distinguished from other New Zealand endemic teal species by location and light barring on sides.
Stripe-chested Antwren
Myrmotherula longicauda
Small, streaky antbird of humid forest along the east slope of the Andes; also found in lowlands away from the mountains in a few areas. Male is boldly striped with black and white. Female is black and tan with a similar stripy pattern but has plainer underparts. Inhabits dense vegetation at forest edge or overgrown clearings. Song is an excited series of doubled notes: “hiccup, hiccup, hiccup…”
Brahminy Kite
Haliastur indus
A medium-sized raptor with a rounded tail unlike other kites. Adults are unmistakable with a white head and breast contrasting with otherwise brick brown plumage. Juveniles are a darker brownish-black with a paler head and prominent white patches under the wings. Usually associated with both inland and coastal wetlands in tropical Asia, but it is largely restricted to coastal wetlands in Australia where it is alternately known as “Red-backed Sea Eagle.” Call is a distinctive nasal, drawn out, “Kyeeerrh.”
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