Masked Yellowthroat

Large, distinctive marsh dweller, elusive and often difficult to see in the heavily vegetated wet fields and marshes it inhabits. Male is unmistakable, with black body, brown-edged wing coverts, and red-and-yellow bill with raised, spiky red frontal shield (unlike smaller moorhen). Females and immature are similarly large but speckled brown above with tan faces, and lack male’s frontal shield. Males are very vocal when breeding, producing liquid-sounding gulps comparable to a water bottle emptying. Both sexes make a range of incisive, guttural clucking and creaking calls, as well as a sharp “keek” in alarm.

A medium-sized honeyeater of forest and edge from the lowlands to mid-mountains. Almost complete lack of field marks, the best ID feature. It has a small-headed and small-billed appearance, and overall color is dull gray-brown apart from birds in SE New Guinea which are more rufous-brown. Solitary and inconspiduous. Little Shrikethrush has a thicker bill, Tawny-breasted Honeyeater, a facial pattern and Tawny Straightbill has pinkish legs and a straight, pointed bill. Call, a soft “wi-wi-wi” repeated at intervals.

A small dark owl, intricately marked with black streaks and fine barring. Bright yellow eyes are set in a pale face ringed with black. The ear tufts can be prominent, especially when seen on a day roost, but sometimes are nearly invisible. Found in open woodlands, orchards, and parks. Active at night, when usually detected by monotonously repeated song, a single plaintive hoot that carries quite well. Within its restricted range, can only be confused with Little Owl, but separated by smaller size, ear tufts, and gray rather than brown overall coloration.