Black-headed Honeyeater

Chunky, rounded songbird with heavy thick bill. Found across a wide range of habitats across its range: largely mangroves in Australia, but also inhabits freshwater swamps in New Guinea and forests and forest edge on smaller islands. Male has an olive-yellow back, black head, white chin, bright yellow underparts, and thick yellow hindcollar. Female plain gray above, paler gray below, with yellow undertail and in some subspecies a yellow belly. Overlaps very marginally with the very similar Golden Whistler in eastern Queensland, but note mangrove habitat as well as slightly longer bill and darker uppertail; also note significant yellow on underparts in female and different song. Vocalizations include variations on whistled songs, sometimes with a whip-like ending.

An unusual duck of alpine lakes and mountain streams. Very distinctive elongated shape with yellow bill, dark head, strong barring on the body and a pointy tail which is cocked when startled. In flight, it has a green panel in the wing bordered with white. It swims with a distinctive head-bobbing motion and feeds by dabbling and diving. It is a strong swimmer and can also do agile leaps onto rocks. Usually silent, but occasional gives a quack or series of “whip-whip-whip” notes.

A small dark bird that creeps around mossy forest understory, frequently hanging upside-down like a nuthatch. Overall dark brown with warm buffy throat and spotting down the chest. Sexes alike. Combination of dark plumage, behavior, and spotting render this species distinctive. Found singly or in pairs, often following a mixed flock through the forest. Listen for its fast, descending, tinkling trill.