Sulawesi Drongo

A huge flightless bird of hill and montane forest; occasionally in lowland rainforest, especially where other cassowary species are absent. The smallest member of the family. Plumage loose and black in adults, brown in juveniles. Adults have a bright blue neck with a red patch on the lower nape. Also note the low, rounded casque. Very secretive and seldom seen. Forages for fallen fruit on the forest floor. Similar to other cassowary species but smaller in size, with lower casque, lacking wattles and does not normally co-occur.

Boldly patterned black-and-red bushshrike with a yellow crown and pale eyes. The duller immature has orange underparts and a gray crown. Found in papyrus swamps, where it skulks with great skill. The male gives ringing “chonk” or “chuwee” notes, often in rapid-fire or up-and-down series. The female gives a low ratcheting call which is sometimes given in a duet alongside the male’s vocalizations. Similar to Black-headed Gonolek, but has a yellow crown and a white wingbar.

This large cuckoo has two morphs: (1) entirely black except for white tips to the long tail and sometimes limited white barring elsewhere, and (2) dark-backed with a rufous chest and black-and-white-barred underparts. The latter are more frequently found in West Central Africa. It has a characteristically swerving flight. It is resident and migrant, preferring thicker woodland and forest, It produces a mournful, three-noted call “I’m so saaaaad” call, the last note rising. Similar dark-morph Jacobin and Levaillant’s cuckoos differ from Black Cuckoo in having crests and strong white flashes in the wings.