Great Iora
Aegithina lafresnayei
A yellowish canopy-dweller with a long, powerful-looking bill. Male is dark above and yellow below, while female is ironically distinctive in her lack of distinctive characteristics; she is plain gray-green above and yellow below. Both sexes can be separated from other ioras by the proportionally larger bill, greater size, and lack of wingbars. Inhabits primary and late secondary broadleaf forests, as well as forest edge, in lowland and foothill regions. Song is a rapid-fire series of high-pitched “chew” notes. Like other ioras, frequently joins mixed-species flocks.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Aegithina lafresnayei
- Authority
- (Hartlaub, 1844)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Aegithinidae
- Genus
- Aegithina
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Ouvea Parakeet
Eunymphicus uvaeensis
Spectacular, relatively large mostly green parakeet with a black face, slight bit of red on the forehead, and thin but prominent “horns” consisting of a crest made up of a pair of black feathers. Typically found in remnant patches of high-quality forest, but visits more disturbed habitat nearby, especially where fruiting trees are present. Found only on Ouvea Island off New Caledonia. Note distinctive voice: relatively low-pitched, nasal trumpeting notes, notably lower-pitched than the voice of Coconut Lorikeet.
Vogelkop Owlet-nightjar
Aegotheles affinis
A mid-sized owlet-nightjar of lower montane forests. Strongly barred back and chest with a brown base, whitish belly and a pale collar. A large, fluffy-headed appearance. Often seen with its head sticking out of a tree cavity. The similar Wallace’s and Mountain Owlet-Nightjars may co-occur but Vogelkop Owlet-Nightjar has only barring on the chest and lacks the small white streaks, or flecks on the back. Vocalizations unknown.
Crested Coua
Coua cristata
Long-tailed, tree-dwelling bird with gray upperparts and pale underparts. Like all couas, has brightly-colored bare skin around the eye. Shows regional variation; the southwestern birds have a brick-red undertail. Inquisitive, restless bird that bounces through the trees and doesn’t often fly. Found in all types of forest at low and middle elevations. Highly vocal; gives several calls. The most frequent and distinctive is a “laser gun” call, a series of piercing, descending calls. In most of its range, it is the only coua with a crest.
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