New Caledonian Cuckooshrike

Attractive gray and chestnut flycatcher with obvious white wing patches. It inhabits high mountains at or above treeline, in open areas where there are only scattered trees and bushes. Sits conspicuously on treetops, posts, wires, and other elevated perches, from which it sallies out to chase insects. It gives a querulous whistle that can be heard over long distances. A scarce bird, but its preference for open habitats and its conspicuous behavior can make it fairly easy to track down if one is present in the area.

This plump gray bird is a regular sight atop patches of trees from the temperate forest zone to above treeline in the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia. The plumage is unremarkable at first glance: both sexes are medium gray with a darker face, blackish wings, and a white band on the tail (visible in flight). The namesake red crest is usually laid flat down the nape, but is occasionally raised into a spectacular splayed bouquet of feathers. Singles or pairs are usually seen perched conspicuously. Found in forested areas, but does not require high-quality intact forest, and can be found in surprisingly small patches of bushes and trees in agricultural areas.

As gray as the high cliffs, rocky meadows, and glacial moraines it frequents, this mountain-finch is often quite tame and will often take food from monasteries and local highland villages. The dark head and plain body of breeding adults are unique amongst the passerines in its range. Nonbreeding birds are paler-headed, but still retain some of the darkness, especially near the bill, and are less well-marked on the back than Plain Mountain-Finch.