Bearded Tachuri

Flamboyantly plumaged little gamebird, with pumpkin-orange head and breast, brown wings, and smart black-and-white scaling on back and sides. Listen for its exuberant song, a series of accelerating whistles that eventually collapses into harsh, coarse notes, as though its voice had broken. Inhabits lowlands and middle-elevation forests, where it can be difficult to see as it forages on the ground, typically singly or in pairs; most readily seen at established feeding stations.

A long-legged, plump-bodied, mostly ground-dwelling bird with bluish-green wings and back, a pale aqua shoulder patch, a light peach-tawny underside and chest, a white throat, and a deep black head. On Choiseul and Santa Isabel, has a light ruddy brown crown. On Bougainville, has a black crown and brown streak behind the eye. Resident in primary forest and forest edge habitats. Unique within its range. Voice is a series of short, rising growling sounds, similar to a kettle boiling.

A vocal, gregarious inhabitant of many habitats, although avoids dense woods; often found near human habitation. Note the glossy purple-black plumage, medium-length squared tail, and somewhat thick bill. Similar species include Shiny Cowbird, Red-shouldered Blackbird, and Greater Antillean Grackle. The male Shiny Cowbird is smaller, shorter-billed, and has even glossier plumage than the Cuban Blackbird. The Greater Antillean Grackle has pale (not dark) eyes, a narrower bill and a longer tail. The female Red-shouldered Blackbird is a bit smaller with a narrower bill, and is less glossy. Vocalizations include “schee-o” and a loud “chuck,” both metallic and given singly or in series. Also common is a “chok, chok, chok, lee, lee, lee.”