Geelvink Fruit-Dove
Ptilinopus speciosus
Localized endemic of islands in West Papua’s Geelvink Bay, including Biak and Numfor. Males have a large, bright “fried egg” yellow-and-white patch on the chest and a hot pink patch on the belly. Otherwise mostly green, aside from yellow undertail. Females are green, with yellow on the undertail and belly. Found in lowland rainforest. The song is an accelerating series of two-part “hoo-wooo” notes given in a series, usually of 7-9 notes. Similar to White-breasted Fruit-Dove, but smaller overall and smaller-billed, and males further separated by their distinctive breast pattern.
Identification
The male has a dark green head and upperparts, a mauve belly, a bright yellow breast band bordered by white, and bold lime-yellow bare skin around the eyes. The female and juveniles are almost entirely green with yellow fringes to the belly feathers.
Taxonomy
Genus: Ptilinopus; Family: Columbidae; Order: Columbiformes.
- Scientific name
- Ptilinopus speciosus
- Authority
- Schlegel, 1871
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Ptilinopus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Reddish Myzomela
Myzomela erythrina
An attractive small myzomela in which males are brick-red, with a slightly darker patch in front of the eyes. Female has distinctive plumage that is mostly reddish-brown. Found in the canopy of primary rainforest and forest edge as well as secondary growth. Unique reddish coloration separates it from similar species. Common call is a repeated high-pitched, insect-like “tsip.”
Burchell's Starling
Lamprotornis australis
A large, long-tailed, iridescent blue-green to purple glossy starling with barred wings, and a round-tipped tail. Pairs, groups, and small flocks are resident in dry savanna, especially near thorn trees, where they have become common in camps and often associate with humans. The species feeds on the ground, walking with long strides and sitting low in trees, searching for insects, small vertebrates, and plant matter to eat. The similar Meves’s Starling differs from Burchell’s Starling by being bluer and smaller, with a more strongly graduated tail that is proportionately longer.
Arfak Honeyeater
Melipotes gymnops
A medium-sized honeyeater of montane forest and edge on the Bird’s Head of New Guinea. Dark gray with a black head and chest. White streaking from the upper belly gets broader, to all pale in the base of the tail. The most prominent feature is the large yellow patch of bare facial skin centered around the eye. No other co-occuring honeyeaters have this color and shape facial patch. Call, a long croaking whistle “Wuueeeeeeuuuuu!” first rising then falling back down.
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