African Swift

A long-tailed kingfisher of forest and gardens on Numfor Island where it is the only paradise-kingfisher. Dark blue body with deep blue crown and shoulder patch, bright red bill and long, white raquet-tail, rump and undertail. Like other paradise-kingfishers, slowly pumps its tail while perched. Song, a rising and quickly accelerating series of nasal notes, starting slowly and ending in a rapid trill “waaaaaak wak ak k-k-k-k-k-k…..”. Pairs fan and raise tail while duetting.

A large, crow-sized bird of wooded habitats on the southeast islands. Black overall with blue iridescence on the shoulder, and purple on the flight feathers and tail. Note the distinctive, dorsally-flattened tail with folded tips and feathered bulge on the head. The only other manucode in range is Trumpet Manucode, but Curl-crested lacks the loose feathers around the neck. Similar size to Torresian Crow but Curl-crested has a dark eye. Song, a remarkable, descending series of hollow notes given while tilting backwards, then rolling its whole body up and over.

A tiny swift with dark plumage except for the off-white underside from the lower breast down. Tail looks square, only sometimes showing a very marginal tail notch. Aerial and gregarious, gathering in flocks over a variety of habitats, both open and forested. Restricted to the western Lesser Sundas, where it only overlaps with one other similar species, White-nest Swiftlet. Tenggara Swiflet is smaller with a white underside, unlike that species.