Yellowhead
Mohoua ochrocephala
A small forest-dwelling songbird endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Distinctive yellow head and yellowish to white underparts. Tends to stay high in the canopy, favoring tall native forest. Often encountered moving in small noisy family flocks, uttering loud staccato chattering calls and trills. Male has a musical canary-like song. Female gives a distinctive buzzing call. Adults can be seen feeding far larger Long-tailed Koel chicks, as this species is a favored host of that nest parasite. Easily distinguished from similarly-colored Yellowhammer by very different habitat use: Yellowhammer favors open farmland and scrub rather than mature forest.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Mohoua ochrocephala
- Authority
- (Gmelin, JF, 1789)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Mohouidae
- Genus
- Mohoua
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Imperial Amazon
Amazona imperialis
A rather large, dark, and stout resident of wet upland forest. Note iridescent purple underparts, vivid green upperparts, and hefty black bill. The Red-necked Parrot, the only other native species within its range, can be readily separated from the Imperial Parrot by its largely green plumage and the red (not purple) patch on its throat. Most common call is a yelping "weep", also gives a loud, scratchy “eee-er.”

Gray-olive Greenbul
Phyllastrephus cerviniventris
Fairly small and typically plain greenbul. The pale bill and legs are unusual. Also note the pale whitish or orangish eye. Found in the thick undergrowth and mid-story of forest. Usually in small, vocal groups. The distinctive call is an accelerating series of nasal barking notes. Similar to several other greenbul species, but separated by the pale bill and legs. Further separated from Cabanis’s Greenbul by the lack of yellowish tones on the underparts.

American Three-toed Woodpecker
Picoides dorsalis
Inconspicuous and uncommon woodpecker of coniferous forests, particularly spruces, often at high elevations (especially in the Rockies). Prefers recently burned areas or bogs with many dead trees. Distinctive habit of flaking bark off trees in search of grubs; behavior shared only by Black-backed Woodpecker. Generally dark with barred flanks and subtle white spots on wings and back. Face is black with white stripes above and below the eye and white speckles on the forehead. Eastern birds darker than western birds. Males show yellow patch on crown; sexes otherwise alike. Most similar to Black-backed Woodpecker but American Three-toed always shows some white on back and more white on head. Listen for soft, hollow "pweek" call and slow drumming that fades at the end.
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