Papuan Harrier

Large swallow of tropical lowlands; both sexes resemble female Purple Martin of North America. Fairly common in towns, villages, open and semi-open country with taller trees and other structures that provide nest cavities. Upperparts dark bluish overall (brighter on male), throat and breast dusky, belly whitish. Lacks pale forehead and pale hindcollar of female Purple Martin. Larger than rough-winged swallows, with a more deeply forked tail, blue cast to upperparts.

The commonest owl from lowland and montane forest and edge. Fairly small, with dark brown back and rich chocolate brown chest. Short, pale eyebrows forming a V-shape. Birds in some areas have broad white streaks on the belly and white flecking on the back. Often catches flying insects from a perched position. Told from the other co-occuring New Guinea Owls by the smaller size and lack of strong streaks or bars. Call a double, downslurred “hooo-hooo!” with a gravely quality, repeated at intervals.

A partridge-like bird with an olive upper body, a mostly gray underside, and broad chestnut bands across the back and wings. Also note the white base to the undertail. Terrestrial, inhabiting forest in lowlands and hills, but most often seen by visiting specific beaches where they come to lay their eggs in the sand at night. The only patridge-like species in range with broad chestnut bands above. Vocalizations, mostly at night, include a moaning “kouw-kouw-kouw” and harsh, agitated “kek” calls.