Worstbird

A fruit dove primarily of foothill forest but wanders to lowland and montane forest. Two very different races. Dark red-capped race from the Bird’s Head of New Guinea, and yellow-green capped further east. Note the white band from the bill around the back of the neck and clay-colored chest. Similar to Pink-spotted Dove, but Ornate Fruit-Dove has a dark red wedge on the shoulder and yellow tip to the tail. Voice a slow but accelerating series of rising “woop” notes, similar to that of Pink-spotted but not as fast.

Pretty bushshrike that has four different morphs. These vary by the color of the underparts: white with a pinkish breast, a black breast and yellow belly, yellow with an orange center of the breast, or red with a yellow belly. Found in forest, mainly at middle and high elevations. Often joins mixed feeding flocks. The most common vocalizations are repeated bell-like notes and low rasps. Variable, but in all morphs, separated from other bushshrikes by black extending above the bill and by the lack of a pale eye stripe.

Rather small antbird with a disjunct distribution. Males have a yellow face and underparts with a black crown, eye-line, and streaks on the breast. Females have a yellow streaked crown. Southeastern subspecies has ochraceous lower underparts. Song is a descending and decelerating series of fluted notes becoming harsher at the end. Found in the understory of humid forests, often in areas of transitional forest or poor soils. Rarely accompanies mixed-species flocks. The similar Spix's and Peruvian Warbling-Antbirds have white breasts, and the song of Peruvian is somewhat slower-paced.

Fairly small and slim weaver with a slender bill and a pale eye. Breeding male is distinctive, with bright yellow overall plumage and a chestnut face. Females, non-breeding males, and juveniles are much duller, but show streaking on the back and are pale overall. Found mainly in wetlands, though they will range into drier surrounding country. Almost always in flocks. Vocalizations are typical of weavers: “chek” notes and a sizzling, “radio static” song. Plumages other than breeding male can be easily confused with other weavers, but can be identified by the pale eye, wetland habitat, and overall size and shape.

A small purplish-and-orange kingfisher with a bright waxy orange bill, ginger underparts, a white throat, and an orange-tinged white neck spot. Found in forest habitats, not necessarily near water, tolerating plantations and degraded forest. No other dwarf-kingfisher shares its range. Told from Common Kingfisher by smaller size, darker purplish upperside, and entirely red bill. Call apparently nearly identical to that of other Melanesian dwarf-kingfishers: a high-pitched, weak repetitive whistle, often given in flight.