Orange River White-eye

A relatively plump and squat imperial-pigeon with a deep chestnut underside, a bright green back and wings, a pale pinkish chest, a gray neck, and a white eye-ring. White tail band sandwiched between two black tail bands is diagnostic. An unobtrusive pigeon that often sits motionless in the canopy of old-growth forest. Rarely seen flying above the canopy. Juvenile Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon could cause confusion, but lacks the bold tail pattern. Voice of Finsch’s little known, but the species has been heard giving a long gruff coo reportedly similar to a steam engine’s whistle.

Orange-brown with black-and-white wing panels and a speckled white “beard” extending down the throat and up to either cheek. Inhabits high-elevation montane forests in the eastern Himalayas, where it usually forages in flocks in dense lower vegetation and in bamboo stands. Listen for its song, a pair or trio of high thin notes followed by a rapid-fire machine-gun rattle. Calls sound like broken-apart components of the song.

Medium-sized dove of open spaces with trees and bushes. Male is red with a bluish-gray head and female is brown overall. Both sexes have a dark collar. Female may be confused with other collared-doves, but is smaller with a shorter tail. Often forages in pairs, but may congregate in large flocks, particularly in agricultural fields where seeds have been spilled. Song is a hoarse and muffled-sounding series of three or four hoots.