Giant Shrike

Robust, big-headed, and rather short-tailed parrot endemic to Papua and Cape York (Australia) and introduced to Solomon Islands, where it inhabits lowland and foothill forests. Male bright green with red underwings and orange bill, female bright red with violet belly and dark bill. Usually seen flying above forests at first light, squawking loudly. Calls include an ear-shattering, high-pitched squawk, as well as a lower, rasping caw. Formerly grouped with other closely related species under “Eclectus Parrot.”

A small, brownish bird with a thick, rounded tail. Note the black bill, the gray underparts, and the contrasting darker gray sides of the breast. The buff-breasted morph is less common and lacks any gray. Inhabits alpine scrub in the summer. Possibly winters lower down in the plains. The song consists of short clicks and buzzes. Extremely similar to Spotted Bush Warbler; the West Himalayan Bush Warbler is slightly paler, but best told apart by range and song. 

Short-tailed lark with a streaky brown back and inky black streaks on the chest. General coloration very similar to various other larks, but the shorter tail Indochinese Bushlark separates it from Australasian Bushlark and migrant or vagrant larks. Song is a series of clear cricket-like trills, given from the ground, a perch, or the air. Calls include similar trilling, as well as whistles. Inhabits open dry land such as fields and grasslands with small trees and bushes dotted around. Unlike skylarks, readily perches on trees and bushes.