New Zealand Fernbird
Poodytes punctatus
Small passerine endemic to New Zealand. Shows extensive brown streaking above with paler coloration underneath. Distinctive long tail has a frayed look. Both sexes and juveniles alike. Patchily distributed across North, South, Stewart, and Snares Islands in wetland habitat, often where vegetation is thick. Can occur in shrubland and tussock grassland. Cryptic bird, heard more often than seen. Gives a sharp “tchip” call and a metallic “u-tick,” often in duet as a pair. Note drooping tail during low flight. Distinguishable from Dunnock by larger size, longer tail, and lighter underparts.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Poodytes punctatus
- Authority
- (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Locustellidae
- Genus
- Poodytes
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Seram Mountain-Pigeon
Gymnophaps stalkeri
A very distinctive large, long-tailed pigeon from the island of Seram. Shows a pale gray crown and neck, an extensive reddish bare skin mask around the eye, a yellow-orange bill with a red base, a pale pinkish throat and chest, and a burgundy belly. Upperparts light gray with a subtle greenish cast. Singles and pairs occur in forested foothills, typically at subcanopy and canopy level; groups gather in fruiting trees. No similar species occurs on Seram. The call of this recently-described species is currently unknown.
Tricolored Munia
Lonchura malacca
Small, finchlike bird of weedy and grassy areas in tropical lowlands. Often in small flocks, which associate readily with seedeaters and grassquits. Adult is handsome and striking with rusty upperparts. Black head and underparts are cut by a broad white swath from flanks across the lower breast. Note stout gray bill. Juvenile notably plain, buffy brown overall with stout bluish-gray bill. Note the pointed tail, unlike seedeaters and grassquits. Native to Asia and spreading in New World as an escaped cage bird.
White-winged Lark
Alauda leucoptera
Handsome lark with flashing white wing patches. Note streaky gray-brown back, white underparts, and warm rufous shoulder; male also has distinct red cap and ear coverts. Forages in large flocks outside of the breeding season. Favors wide expansive dry steppelands and fields; occasionally encountered in agricultural areas. Song is a jumble of trills, chirps, harsh rasps, and twittering notes.
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