Doria's Hawk
Megatriorchis doriae
A large, inconspicuous raptor of lowlands and foothill forest interior. Brown back and long tail with strong barring, pale underparts with strong sparse streaking, pale eye-brow and a thick dark eye-stripe. Ambushes birds from a perched position. Has been known to take bird-of-paradise at lek sites. Similar to Long-tailed Honey-buzzard, but Doria’s Goshawk doesn’t soar, is slightly larger with a dark eye and yellow rather than white legs. Call, a short, slow series of strong, shreaking calls.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Megatriorchis doriae
- Authority
- Salvadori & D'Albertis, 1875
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Genus
- Megatriorchis
Range and habitat
Doria's goshawk is endemic to lowland rainforests of New Guinea and Batanta Island. This bird is rarely seen and there is little record of it because the bird is not easily noticed and does not draw attention to itself. This is partly because of its camouflage and its other habits. After being monitored for seven years observation at Tabubil, Western Province of Papua New Guinea, there was only one sighting of the bird. The bird’s habitat is more specifically the New Guinea lowlands, as well as shrubs or trees that grow mainly in coastal saline or brackish water, seasonal tropical forests. Its habit is to be below forest cover or shade. The bird does not fly or rise high in the air. The bird's habitat has been decreasing as deforestation continues.[citation needed]
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
Due to ongoing habitat loss, Doria's goshawk is evaluated as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES. The conservation status of this species is that it is close to meeting the requirements for a threatened category in the future. The habitat of Doria’s goshawk was destroyed, which has a direct impact on its small and declining population. >
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Golden Cuckooshrike
Campochaera sloetii
A medium-sized bird of foothill forest canopy and clearings, often perching out on open branches. Bright yellow belly, dirty yellow back, black tail and black wing with white lines and a white forehead. Throat and chest are black in males and gray in females. Golden Monarch is somewhat similar, but Golden Cuckooshrike is much larger and lacks the white spot below the eye. Golden Myna lacks the white line in the wing. Voice, an explosive “syup!”, double “syup-yup!” or a more rapid series.
Worm-eating Warbler
Helmitheros vermivorum
A plain warbler dressed in subtle shades of olive, brown, and buff. Note black and tan stripes on head and long, sharp bill. Pinkish legs. Skulky, often seen in the understory, probing clumps of dead leaves in search of insects. Breeds in mature deciduous forests, especially on steep dry slopes. Winters primarily in Middle America and the Caribbean, where it can be found in a wider variety of forested habitats. Listen for its dry, insectlike trill that is very similar to Chipping Sparrow. Appearance most similar to Swainson’s Warbler; distinguished by head pattern (Swainson’s has a rufous crown, Worm-eating has a striped head) and habits (Swainson’s usually found on the ground, Worm-eating in low understory).
Pearl-spotted Owlet
Glaucidium perlatum
A small, round, brownish owl that is often active by day. It has white speckles on its back and tail; white spots (not bars) on the crown and head are diagnostic. The presence of white-ringed, black blobs on the back of the head give the impression of “false eyes”. Singles and pairs are common in moist and arid wooded savanna, including near villages. It calls an accelerating series of upslurred, piping “fwooo” notes, followed by a set of downward “puuueeeww” whistles. The similar African Barred Owlet is larger; it has bars (not spots) on the head, and it lacks “false eyes”.
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