Worstbird

Large honeyeater found in wetter forested habitats in New Guinea and northern Cape York. Dark brown above, paler buff-brown below, with gray neck and face. Black bill fairly long and decurved. White gape line curves beneath eye and onto cheek. In addition to eating nectar, this species also searches bark for insects.

Attractive but rather local little bird of scrubby habitats and dense hedgerows in lowland desert. Mostly stays well hidden, hopping low to high in bushes and trees, tail sometimes held cocked. Sings from atop a bush or other prominent low perch. Readily identified by long spiky crest with a flashy white median patch. Male has solidly black face and throat while female has a whitish face and throat with black streaks. Immature has a plainer face with a whitish throat and shorter crest, but still has a big white flash in crest.

Blue-and-black tanager with a bright creamy-white crown and rump patches; otherwise deep blue with black patches from the tail to the head. Compared to the similar Opal-rumped Tanager, this species has a distinctive whitish crown and a blue (not reddish) belly; the latter can be helpful for identification from below as it moves through the canopy with mixed species tanager flocks.

A pretty, intricately marked medium-sized francolin with a brown back, rufous underparts, and a white throat bordered with black spots. The wings show large rufous patches in flight. Found at high elevations in alpine grassland and heath, often in small groups. Similar to Shelley’s Francolin, but found in different habitat at higher elevations, and separated by many details, including the more solidly rufous underparts without heavy black barring on the belly. The vocalizations include a series of “squee-chee” notes, and a squealing call often given in flight.

Small, long-tailed, mostly black guineafowl with a white ruff around the neck and a bare red head. Found on the ground in lowland rainforest. Generally rare and local. Usually in groups, which range from small to fairly large. The common call is a repeated, agitated “kyeek.” Also gives a descending trilled call. Similar to other guineafowl, but easily separated by the white neck.