Puerto Rican Tody

Extremely elusive and rarely-seen ground-dweller; listen instead for its haunting whistle. If seen, overall size and chunkiness alone should be sufficient to distinguish this species from other pittas. Male has bright blue wings and a grayish head with a thin black line curving downwards from behind the eye. Female is browner overall, with a blue rump and warm rufous-brown wings. Rare in lowland and foothill forests, particularly in swampy or riparian areas.

An unusual paradise-flycatcher, slate-gray overall with a slightly darker head. Males have slightly elongated central tail feathers. Both sexes have a blue bill and ring around the eye. A poorly known bird that is found in humid forest at lower middle elevations along the west side of the Albertine Rift. Similar in shape to other paradise-flycatchers, but easily separated by the gray underparts. Reminiscent of Dusky and Blue-headed Crested-Flycatchers, but larger and less crested, with more vertical posture. Call is a series of tearing “shreet” notes, and song is a fast, bubbling series of “twee” notes.

Large cuckoo known for its loud distinctive calls. Bright red eye. Males entirely black. Females barred with varying patterns, a black crown and a strong moustache. Occurs in a variety of habitats, fairly common in suburban areas. Strong migrant, spending the middle of the year in eastern Indonesia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, and migrating south into eastern Australia during the austral summer. Calls are very loud, often heard at night or pre-dawn, including a piercing ‘coo-eee’, and a longer ‘wirra-wirra-wirra’ (similar to a car alarm).