African Collared-Dove

Small plain cuckoo with a dark eye and black "ears." Inhabits dry woodlands, typically in arid regions. Usually solitary, shy, and most easily located when calling. Plain gray upperparts, pale underparts, with faint barring on undertail. Loud, piercing call descends in pitch, sounding somewhat sad, a repeated "fweeeew-fweeeeew-fweeeew."

A small, noisy songbird endemic to New Zealand, found on the South and Stewart Islands. Favors myriad forest types. Note brown upperparts with an ashy-gray face and neck, and pale creamy-brown underparts. Often located first by its harsh chattering contact calls and canary-like song. Forms fast-moving flocks in the canopy that will come down to investigate “squeaking.” Associates with other species such as Silvereye and Gray Gerygone in the non-breeding season, forming noisy, continuously chattering flocks. Pipipi is the main host of the parasitic Long-tailed Koel, and so adults can be encountered feeding a much larger Koel chick. Distinguished from Dunnock by lighter underparts; does not feed on the ground. Look for sharp contrast between gray face and lighter underparts and larger size to distinguish from Gray Gerygone.

A large, shy, stocky bird of lowland and foothill forest interior of western New Guinea. A dark brown crown edged with black, contrasting with white cheek and throat, containing small black dots forming an uneven moustache. A messy, black collar joins the crown on the back of the neck and gets narrower to the throat. Chest and belly are buffy with large black spots. May overlap with Arfak Catbird, but White-eared is usually found at lower elevation, is smaller and has a white cheek. Call, a harsh rasping note.