Southern Carmine Bee-eater

A rather small orange-eyed owl with lightly spotted brown upperparts and paler underparts. Prefers well-developed forest, mainly in lowlands, but up to 1500 meters of elevation. Unlikely to overlap in range with any similar species. Vocal range poorly known, but a series of monotone “poop” or “chong” notes is regularly reported. Found from Bougainville, Buka, and Choiseul in the north to Florida Island in the south. Formerly lumped with Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Makira Owls under the name “Solomons Boobook.”

Big, spectacular black-and-white hornbill. Males have a large cream-colored bill, and females a much smaller and darker one. In flight, shows a broad white patch at the back of the wing, white wingtips, and a white tail with a black band. Found in the canopy of lowland rainforest, usually in pairs or small groups. The loud calls are honking and yapping notes that are often given in a quick series. Similar to Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill, but has a white tail with a black band, the wingtips are white, and the bill is paler. Could be confused with Piping Hornbill, but much larger, with much more white in the wings and tail and a paler bill. 

Male is stunning, with a metallic blue back, a black mask extending down to the shoulder, and a burning flame-orange throat and breast. Female is plain brown and very difficult to distinguish from female Indian Blue Robin (which generally breeds at lower altitudes than Firethroat) and Siberian Blue Robin (which overlaps with Firethroat only on migration); look out for the female Firethroat’s relatively brighter white throat, darker underparts, and lack of scaling on the breast. The species is shy, keeping to the undergrowth, but will emerge into the open to sing; song is repetitive and pleasant, with imitations and deeper notes thrown in. Breeds in dense, low montane vegetation; winters in similar habitat in lower foothills.