Vogelkop Melidectes

A mid-sized brown barbet with a white line under the eye and white wing patches. Geographically very variable, with differing amounts of lemon yellow on the crown (from completely covered to none), and speckles on the breast. Immature is duller than the adult. Has a darker head, larger wing patches and lower-pitched call than the similar Anchieta’s Barbet. It is a low-density resident in Miombo (Brachystegia) woodland, favoring riverine areas. Calls a nasal “pooh-pooh-pooh” which often reveals its presence.

A medium-sized, long-tailed bird of wooded and fairly open areas in the lowlands. Sooty-gray above and white below, with a black chest band and black face. Note the white throat and brow. Often cocks and twitches its white-tipped tail from side to side. Similar in size and color to Philippine Magpie-Robin, but lacks the white mark in the wing. Song consists of varied, rather tuneless and scratchy complex whistled phrases.

Big, dark, long-tailed tree-dwelling bird. Like other couas, inquisitive and restless. Generally prefers to jump or flop through the trees, but sometimes makes long gliding flights with occasional explosive wingbeats. Found in eastern and northern rainforest. Most common call is a short, explosive “brr-dd-t”. Also gives a long, descending series of mournful “kwa” notes. Larger than Red-fronted and Red-breasted Couas, lacking red coloration, and is usually found high in trees, unlike those understory-dwelling species.