St. Lucia Black Finch

A large cuckoo, distinctive in all plumages, but usually secretive, keeping to the interior of dense trees in many habitats, even inner cities and fields. Adult males glossy black with dull lime-green bill; females and immatures blackish brown with white dots on the wings and strong streaking on head and throat. Adults have ruby-red eyes. Females lay eggs in the nests of other large birds, including crows, shrikes, and starlings. Song is a loud, persistent “ko-EL!” similar to a peacock’s call.

Unmistakable cotinga. Male have black-purplish plumage with white wings. Females are gray with white edges to the wing feathers. Found in humid forest and occasionally forest edge habitats, where it is normally seen perched on the exposed branches of the canopy or feeding at fruiting trees. Gives a “chirp” call and also produces wing-whirs.

An unmistakable plump, short-tailed, long-legged forest bird with a red belly. A spectacular species displaying a broad iridescent blue chest band, a dark purplish-glossed head with blue cheek markings, a reddish nape, and moss-green upperparts. Found in forested lowlands and foothills and within bamboo thickets. Usually seen singly, most often either foraging on the forest floor or calling from low understory branches. Confined to the islands of Buru and Seram. Gives a distinctive soft, quivering two-part whistle: “waaaaaaaoop-aaaaaaww.” First part ascends, and the second is a mournful, descending whistle.