Papuan Grassbird

The common and widespread fairywren of grasslands. A small bird with a long tail that it often cocks. Male is all black with a white shoulder patch. Females vary geographically, brown in some areas and black in others, but always have white throat, chest and a broken white eye-ring. The male Pied Bushchat has a similar color scheme but White-shouldered Fairywren has a much longer tail that it cocks. Song, a constantly repeated, high-pitched, jumbled phrase. Call a dry rattle.

A beautiful, elegant desert lark. Head pattern striking with a black Zorro-mask, a black throat, and narrow black “horns” or ear tufts. Overall pale sandy, but note that males have a sharper head pattern than females. In flight its long tail is prominently dark. Inhabits sandy or stony desert plains and low hills. Breeds on the ground under a bush. Male gives a melodic high-pitched whistle often during display flights, “Tsu tsi tsu-tsu, tsu-tsu.”

An entertaining heron to watch—known for sprinting, jumping, and spinning around in shallow water with its wings held up. Dark morph is more common than white morph. Adults are dark gray with a rusty head and neck. Immatures are paler grayish and rusty overall. In breeding plumage, the pink bill and blue lores can become shockingly bright. White morphs are similar to other egrets, but note behavior, grayish legs, and pink bill base (adults). Found exclusively near the coast, especially on mudflats. Typically uncommon, usually seen singly or in scattered small numbers. Dark morph most easily confused with Little Blue Heron, but Reddish Egret is larger and forages much more actively.