Waigeo Brushturkey

A brightly colored songbird with a bright golden belly, a black hood and chest band, and an olive upperside and wings. Throat is a golden yellow. Population on Vella Lavella and Ranongga is mostly black with a golden throat, belly, and undertail. Birds on the Russell Islands are entirely golden, brighter below. Some birds on Guadalcanal are entirely cinnamon with a brownish “shawl” and a buffy belly. Mostly inhabits primary forest, but wanders into gardens and village edges. Voice includes a mix of flute-like whistles and squeaks with loud far-carrying whipcrack notes repeated.

A small, plump finch with a very thick pink bill. The black head and white cheek patch are distinctive. Juveniles have a similar color pattern but are grayer. Social; forages in flocks and roosts communally. Forages in rice fields, grasslands, meadows, and urban and suburban areas (in introduced range). Call consists of one or more musical chirps. Native to the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali, where now quite rare. Introduced widely across the globe including India, Philippines, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the Hawaiian Islands.

An impressive long-tailed species of wooded habitats including shade coffee plantations. Typically found foraging in dense vegetation from understory to canopy; can be found sunning in the open at first light with its tail spread. Note this species long straight narrow bill, brilliant red eyering, gray chest, and buff-orange belly. The Bay-breasted Cuckoo is similarly shaped but is larger with a maroon chest and short curved bill. The Mangrove Cuckoo is smaller with a smaller curved bill and a black mask. Secretive, but not shy, this species is often first detected by its voice: a long, rapid, ratcheting “keh-keh-keh…” Also gives a low “craaa” and a sharp “chek.”