Bird Families of the World holly grail - New Guinea!
Most of New Guinea’s 7 endemic bird families member seen only on the highlands. Tari Gap area is less accessible than legendary Kumul Lodge and trails, but it seems that birding there is more productive. My wish list included also the non-endemic Boatbills which have a representor in north-east Australia. Some finding hints:
- Blue-capped Ifirta seen on mossy trees in a few locations in Tari area, sometimes a few birds together
- Tit Berrypecker and Crested Berrypecker: Tit BP. seen just up above the canopy. Crested BP seen once or twice by others.
- Wattled Ploughbill was co-operative for a few minutes on our first day, later was much harder
- Several species of Berrypeckers and Longbills seen in both highlands and lowlands sites. Fan-tailed BP is probably the easiest to photograph.
- Mottled Berryhunter seen on fruiting trees a few time in Tari area.
- Satinbirds – The long lasting Crested Satinbird which was seen in the Kumul feeders did not show up. Loria’s Satinbird heard in a few highlands locations, usually parching far up on tree tops.
- Melampittas – Lesser Melampitta heard in many places, including in Kumul lodge, but as a highly secretive bird, tough to seen and photograph.
- Boatbills – Black-breasted Boatbill was common and co-operative in the highlands. The non-endemic Yellow-breasted Boatbill seen one in lowlands.
237. Family #161: Ifrita (Ifritidae) | Blue-capped Ifrita.
238. Family #146: Tit Berrypecker and Crested Berrypecker (Paramythiidae) | Tit Berrypecker.
239. Family #143: Ploughbill (Eulacestomatidae) | Wattled Ploughbill.
240. Family #169: Berrypeckers and Longbills (Melanocharitidae) | Fan-tailed Berrypecker.
241. Family #152: Mottled Berryhunter (Rhagologidae) | Mottled Berryhunter.
242. Family #152: Satinbirds (Cnemophilidae) | Loria’s Satinbird.
243. Family #164:Melampittas (Melampittidae) | Lesser Melampitta.
244. Family #150:Boatbills (Machaerirhynchidae) | Black-breasted Boatbill.
English | Latin | first seen at |
Plumed Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna eytoni | Pacific Adventist University |
Wandering Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna arcuata | Pacific Adventist University |
Radjah Shelduck | Tadorna radjah | Pacific Adventist University |
Salvadori’s Teal | Salvadorina waigiuensis | Tabubil – Okmegwaga Dam |
Pacific Black Duck | Anas superciliosa | Pacific Adventist University |
Gray Teal | Anas gracilis | Pacific Adventist University |
Yellow-legged Brushturkey | Talegalla fuscirostris | Kwatu camp and trails |
Brown Quail | Coturnix ypsilophora | Varirata |
Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | POM to Sogeri |
Metallic Pigeon | Columba vitiensis | Kiunga – rivers – Kwatu |
Amboyna Cuckoo-Dove | Macropygia amboinensis | Tabubil – Henry road |
Black-billed Cuckoo-Dove | Macropygia nigrirostris | Tari |
Great Cuckoo-Dove | Reinwardtoena reinwardtii | Kiunga – flightless rail site road |
Stephan’s Dove | Chalcophaps stephani | Kiunga – flightless rail site road |
New Guinea Bronzewing | Henicophaps albifrons | Tabubil – Dublin krick road |
Bronze Ground Dove | Gallicolumba beccarii | Kumul, Murur trail |
Peaceful Dove | Geopelia placida | Varirata |
Bar-shouldered Dove | Geopelia humeralis | Pacific Adventist University |
Pheasant Pigeon | Otidiphaps nobilis | Varirata |
Sclater’s Crowned-Pigeon | Goura scheepmakeri | Kwatu camp and trails ssp. sclaterii (splited) |
Wompoo Fruit-Dove | Ptilinopus magnificus | Kwatu camp and trails |
Pink-spotted Fruit-Dove | Ptilinopus perlatus | Varirata |
Ornate Fruit-Dove | Ptilinopus ornatus | Tari |
Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove | Ptilinopus aurantiifrons | Pacific Adventist University |
Coroneted Fruit-Dove | Ptilinopus coronulatus | Brown River |
Beautiful Fruit-Dove | Ptilinopus pulchellus | Kwatu camp and trails |
Orange-bellied Fruit-Dove | Ptilinopus iozonus | Kiunga – flightless rail site road |
Dwarf Fruit-Dove | Ptilinopus nanus | Kiunga – flightless rail site road |
Purple-tailed Imperial-Pigeon | Ducula rufigaster | Varirata |
Rufescent Imperial-Pigeon | Ducula chalconota | Varirata |
Pinon’s Imperial-Pigeon | Ducula pinon | Brown River |
Zoe’s Imperial-Pigeon | Ducula zoeae | Kiunga – flightless rail site road |
Torresian Imperial-Pigeon | Ducula spilorrhoa | Pacific Adventist University |
Papuan Mountain-Pigeon | Gymnophaps albertisii | Tari |
Greater Black Coucal | Centropus menbeki | Kwatu camp and trails |
Lesser Black Coucal | Centropus bernsteini | Kiunga Airport |
Pheasant Coucal | Centropus phasianinus | POM to Sogeri |
Dwarf Koel | Microdynamis parva | Kwatu camp and trails |
Channel-billed Cuckoo | Scythrops novaehollandiae | POM to Sogeri |
Rufous-throated Bronze-Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx ruficollis | Tari |
White-eared Bronze-Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx meyeri | Tabubil – Henry rd. |
White-crowned Koel | Cacomantis leucolophus | Tabubil – Henry road |
Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo | Cacomantis castaneiventris | Tabubil – Dublin krick road |
Brush Cuckoo | Cacomantis variolosus | Tabubil – Henry road |
Oriental Cuckoo | Cuculus optatus | Kiunga Airport |
Marbled Frogmouth | Podargus ocellatus | Kwatu camp and trails |
Papuan Frogmouth | Podargus papuensis | Kwatu camp and trails |
Large-tailed Nightjar | Caprimulgus macrurus | Varirata |
Feline Owlet-Nightjar | Aegotheles insignis | Kumul – Murmur. heard in Tari |
Starry Owlet-Nightjar | Aegotheles tatei | Kwatu camp and trails |
Wallace’s Owlet-Nightjar | Aegotheles wallacii | Kwatu camp and trails |
Barred Owlet-Nightjar | Aegotheles bennettii | Varirata |
Papuan Spinetailed Swift | Mearnsia novaeguineae | Kiunga – rivers – Kwatu |
Glossy Swiftlet | Collocalia esculenta | POM to Sogeri |
Mountain Swiftlet | Aerodramus hirundinaceus | Tari |
Uniform Swiftlet | Aerodramus vanikorensis | Tabubil – Dublin krick road |
Moustached Treeswift | Hemiprocne mystacea | Tari |
Buff-banded Rail | Gallirallus philippensis | Tabubil |
Australasian Swamphen | Porphyrio melanotus | POM to Sogeri |
New Guinea Flightless Rail | Megacrex inepta | Kiunga – flightless rail site road |
Pale-vented Bush-hen | Amaurornis moluccana | Kiunga Airport |
Pacific Golden-Plover | Pluvialis fulva | Pacific Adventist University |
Masked Lapwing | Vanellus miles | POM |
Comb-crested Jacana | Irediparra gallinacea | Pacific Adventist University |
Swinhoe’s Snipe | Gallinago megala | Kiunga Airport |
Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | Pacific Adventist University |
Little Pied Cormorant | Phalacrocorax melanoleucos | POM to Sogeri |
Little Black Cormorant | Phalacrocorax sulcirostris | Pacific Adventist University |
Great-billed Heron | Ardea sumatrana | Kwatu camp and trails |
Great Egret | Ardea alba | Pacific Adventist University |
Intermediate Egret | Mesophoyx intermedia | Kiunga – rivers – Kwatu |
Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | Pacific Adventist University |
Pied Heron | Egretta picata | Pacific Adventist University |
Cattle Egret | Bubulcus coromandus | POM to Sogeri |
Nankeen Night-Heron | Nycticorax caledonicus | Pacific Adventist University |
Glossy Ibis | Plegadis falcinellus | Pacific Adventist University |
Australian Ibis | Threskiornis moluccus | Pacific Adventist University |
Royal Spoonbill | Platalea regia | road Kiunga – Tabubil |
Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Pacific Adventist University |
Black-shouldered Kite | Elanus caeruleus | Kumul |
Long-tailed Honey-buzzard | Henicopernis longicauda | Tabubil – Henry road |
Pacific Baza | Aviceda subcristata | Kiunga – rivers – Kwatu |
Papuan Marsh-Harrier | Circus spilothorax | Tari |
Variable Goshawk | Accipiter hiogaster | Tabubil – Henry road |
Collared Sparrowhawk | Accipiter cirrocephalus | Tari |
Black Kite | Milvus migrans | Mount Hagen |
Whistling Kite | Haliastur sphenurus | Kiunga – rivers – Kwatu |
Brahminy Kite | Haliastur indus | Tari |
White-bellied Sea-Eagle | Haliaeetus leucogaster | Kiunga – rivers – Kwatu |
Sooty Owl | Tyto tenebricosa | Tari |
Barking Owl | Ninox connivens | Varirata |
Papuan Boobook | Ninox theomacha | Tari |
Papuan Owl | Uroglaux dimorpha | Kiunga |
Blyth’s Hornbill | Aceros plicatus | road Kiunga – Tabubil |
Azure Kingfisher | Ceyx azureus | Kwatu camp and trails ssp. sclaterii (splited) |
Papuan Dwarf-Kingfisher | Ceyx solitarius | Varirata |
Blue-winged Kookaburra | Dacelo leachii | Varirata |
Rufous-bellied Kookaburra | Dacelo gaudichaud | road Kiunga – Tabubil |
Forest Kingfisher | Todiramphus macleayii | Varirata |
Sacred Kingfisher | Todiramphus sanctus | POM to Sogeri * sanctus (Australasian) |
Hook-billed Kingfisher | Melidora macrorrhina | Kwatu camp and trails |
Yellow-billed Kingfisher | Syma torotoro | Kwatu camp and trails |
Mountain Kingfisher | Syma megarhyncha | Tari |
Little Paradise-Kingfisher | Tanysiptera hydrocharis | Kwatu camp and trails |
Common Paradise-Kingfisher | Tanysiptera galatea | Kwatu camp and trails |
Brown-headed Paradise-Kingfisher | Tanysiptera danae | Varirata |
Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher | Tanysiptera sylvia | Kwatu camp and trails |
Rainbow Bee-eater | Merops ornatus | Pacific Adventist University |
Dollarbird | Eurystomus orientalis | Kiunga – rivers – Kwatu |
Nankeen Kestrel | Falco cenchroides | POM to Sogeri |
Brown Falcon | Falco berigora | Tari |
Palm Cockatoo | Probosciger aterrimus | Kwatu camp and trails |
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo | Cacatua galerita | Kiunga – rivers – Kwatu |
Pesquet’s Parrot | Psittrichas fulgidus | Tabubil – Henry rd. |
Yellow-capped Pygmy-Parrot | Micropsitta keiensis | Tabubil – Henry rd. |
Papuan King-Parrot | Alisterus chloropterus | Varirata |
Eclectus Parrot | Eclectus roratus | Tabubil – Henry road |
Red-cheeked Parrot | Geoffroyus geoffroyi | road Kiunga – Tabubil |
Brehm’s Tiger-Parrot | Psittacella brehmii | Kumul |
Modest Tiger-Parrot | Psittacella modesta | Tari |
Orange-breasted Fig-Parrot | Cyclopsitta gulielmitertii | road Kiunga – Tabubil |
Double-eyed Fig-Parrot | Cyclopsitta diophthalma | Kiunga – flightless rail site road |
Plum-faced Lorikeet | Oreopsittacus arfaki | Tari |
Josephine’s Lorikeet | Charmosyna josefinae | Tabubil – Henry road |
Papuan Lorikeet | Charmosyna papou | Tari ssp. stellae |
Yellow-billed Lorikeet | Neopsittacus musschenbroekii | Tari |
Orange-billed Lorikeet | Neopsittacus pullicauda | Tari |
Black-capped Lory | Lorius lory | road Kiunga – Tabubil |
Dusky Lory | Pseudeos fuscata | Tabubil – Henry road |
Goldie’s Lorikeet | Psitteuteles goldiei | Tari |
Coconut Lorikeet | Trichoglossus haematodus | POM to Sogeri |
Papuan Pitta | Pitta erythrogaster | Kwatu camp and trails. aka Papuan Pitta |
Hooded Pitta | Pitta sordida | Kwatu camp and trails |
Flame Bowerbird | Sericulus aureus | Kwatu camp and trails |
Yellow-breasted Bowerbird | Chlamydera lauterbachi | Kumul – Kama |
Fawn-breasted Bowerbird | Chlamydera cerviniventris | POM to Sogeri |
Papuan Treecreeper | Cormobates placens | Tari |
Orange-crowned Fairywren | Clytomyias insignis | Tari |
Campbell’s Fairywren | Chenorhamphus grayi | Kwatu camp and trails |
Emperor Fairywren | Malurus cyanocephalus | Kiunga – flightless rail site road. , photo: Brown River |
White-shouldered Fairywren | Malurus alboscapulatus | POM to Sogeri |
Plain Honeyeater | Pycnopygius ixoides | Tabubil – Henry rd. |
Streak-headed Honeyeater | Pycnopygius stictocephalus | POM to Sogeri |
Puff-backed Honeyeater | Meliphaga aruensis | Kwatu camp and trails |
Yellow-gaped Honeyeater | Meliphaga flavirictus | Kwatu camp and trails |
Mountain Honeyeater | Meliphaga orientalis | Tabubil – Henry road |
Mimic Honeyeater | Meliphaga analoga | Kiunga – flightless rail site road |
Elegant Honeyeater | Microptilotis cinereifro | POM to Sogeri |
Black-throated Honeyeater | Lichenostomus subfrenatus | Tari |
Obscure Honeyeater | Lichenostomus obscurus | Tabubil – Okmegwaga Dam |
Ornate Melidectes | Melidectes torquatus | Kumul – Kama |
Belford’s Melidectes | Melidectes belfordi | Tari |
Yellow-browed Melidectes | Melidectes rufocrissalis | Tari |
Rufous-banded Honeyeater | Conopophila albogularis | Pacific Adventist University |
Smoky Honeyeater | Melipotes fumigatus | Tari |
Long-billed Honeyeater | Melilestes megarhynchus | Tabubil – Dublin creek rd. |
Papuan Black Myzomela | Myzomela nigrita | Kiunga – flightless rail site road |
Red-collared Myzomela | Myzomela rosenbergii | Tari |
Green-backed Honeyeater | Glycichaera fallax | Varirata |
Rufous-backed Honeyeater | Ptiloprora guisei | Tari |
Gray-streaked Honeyeater | Ptiloprora perstriata | Tari |
White-throated Honeyeater | Melithreptus albogularis | Varirata |
Tawny-breasted Honeyeater | Xanthotis flaviventer | Tabubil – Henry road |
Spotted Honeyeater | Xanthotis polygrammus | Tabubil – Henry rd. |
Meyer’s Friarbird | Philemon meyeri | Kiunga |
Helmeted Friarbird | Philemon buceroides | POM to Sogeri. * novaeguineae (New Guinea) |
Rusty Mouse-Warbler | Crateroscelis murina | Varirata |
Mountain Mouse-Warbler | Crateroscelis robusta | Tari |
Large Scrubwren | Sericornis nouhuysi | Tari |
Papuan Scrubwren | Sericornis papuensis | Tari |
Pale-billed Scrubwren | Sericornis spilodera | Varirata |
Green-backed Gerygone | Gerygone chloronota | Tabubil – Henry road |
Yellow-bellied Gerygone | Gerygone chrysogaster | Kwatu camp and trails |
Large-billed Gerygone | Gerygone magnirostris | Kiunga – rivers – Kwatu |
Papuan Babbler | Pomatostomus isidorei | Kwatu camp and trails |
Papuan Logrunner | Orthonyx novaeguineae | Tari |
Spotted Jewel-babbler | Ptilorrhoa leucosticta | Tari |
Stout-billed Cuckooshrike | Coracina caeruleogrisea | Tabubil – Henry rd. |
Hooded Cuckooshrike | Coracina longicauda | Tari |
Barred Cuckooshrike | Coracina lineata | Varirata |
Boyer’s Cuckooshrike | Coracina boyeri | Tari |
Golden Cuckooshrike | Campochaera sloetii | Tabubil – Henry road |
Varied Triller | Lalage leucomela | Kiunga |
Black-bellied Cicadabird | Edolisoma montanum | Tari |
Papuan Cicadabird | Edolisoma incertum | Tabubil – Dublin crick road. aka Black-shouldered Cicadabird/CS |
Gray-headed Cicadabird | Edolisoma schisticeps | Tabubil – Henry rd. |
Black Cicadabird | Edolisoma melan | Tabubil – Henry road |
Black Sittella | Daphoenositta miranda | Tari |
Wattled Ploughbill | Eulacestoma nigropectus | Tari |
Rufous-naped Bellbird | Aleadryas rufinucha | Tari |
Tit Berrypecker | Oreocharis arfaki | Tari |
White-bellied Pitohui | Colluricincla incerta | Varirata |
Sooty Shrikethrush | Colluricincla umbrina | Kwatu camp and trails |
Variable Shrikethrush | Colluricincla fortis | Varirata. ssp despecta |
Regent Whistler | Pachycephala schlegelii | Tari |
Brown-backed Whistler | Pachycephala modesta | Tari |
Black-headed Whistler | Pachycephala monacha | Tabubil – Henry rd. |
Hooded Pitohui | Pitohui dichrous | Varirata |
Southern Variable Pitohui | Pitohui kirhocephalus | Kiunga – K17 |
Brown Oriole | Oriolus szalayi | Tabubil – Henry road |
Australasian Figbird | Sphecotheres vieilloti | Pacific Adventist University |
Black-breasted Boatbill | Machaerirhynchus nigripectus | Tari |
Yellow-breasted Boatbill | Machaerirhynchus flaviventer | Brown River |
Great Woodswallow | Artamus maximus | Tari |
White-breasted Woodswallow | Artamus leucorynchus | POM to Sogeri |
Mountain Peltops | Peltops montanus | Tabubil – Henry road |
Lowland Peltops | Peltops blainvillii | Kiunga – flightless rail site road |
Black-backed Butcherbird | Cracticus mentalis | Pacific Adventist University |
Hooded Butcherbird | Cracticus cassicus | road Kiunga – Tabubil |
Black Butcherbird | Cracticus quoyi | Tabubil – Dyblin krick road |
Mottled Berryhunter | Rhagologus leucostigma | Tari – Mottled Berryhunter |
Black Fantail | Rhipidura atra | Tari |
Northern Fantail | Rhipidura rufiventris | Tabubil – Dyblin krick road |
Sooty Thicket-Fantail | Rhipidura threnothorax | Kwatu camp and trails |
Black Thicket-Fantail | Rhipidura maculipectus | Brown River |
White-bellied Thicket-Fantail | Rhipidura leucothorax | Tabubil – Henry road |
Willie-wagtail | Rhipidura leucophrys | POM to Sogeri |
Dimorphic Fantail | Rhipidura brachyrhyncha | Tari |
Friendly Fantail | Rhipidura albolimbata | Tari |
Spangled Drongo | Dicrurus bracteatus | Kiunga – rivers – Kwatu |
Crinkle-collared Manucode | Manucodia chalybatus | road Kiunga – Tabubil |
Glossy-mantled Manucode | Manucodia ater | Kiunga – flightless rail site road |
King-of-Saxony Bird-of-Paradise | Pteridophora alberti | Tari |
Lawes’s Parotia | Parotia lawesii | Kumul – Tonga |
Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise | Seleucidis melanoleucus | Kwatu camp and trails |
Magnificent Riflebird | Ptiloris magnificus | Tabubil – Henry road |
Growling Riflebird | Ptiloris intercedens | Varirata |
Brown Sicklebill + ♀ | Epimachus meyeri | Tari |
Splendid Astrapia | Astrapia splendidissima | Tabubil – Hindenberg Wall |
Ribbon-tailed Astrapia | Astrapia mayeri | Tari |
King Bird-of-Paradise | Cicinnurus regius | Kiunga – rivers – Kwatu |
Blue Bird-of-Paradise | Paradisaea rudolphi | Kumul – Kama |
Lesser Bird-of-Paradise | Paradisaea minor | Kumul – Kama |
Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise | Paradisaea raggiana | Varirata |
Greater Bird-of-Paradise | Paradisaea apoda | Kiunga – flightless rail site road |
Blue-capped Ifrita | Ifrita kowaldi | Tari |
Black-winged Monarch | Monarcha frater | Tabubil – Henry rd. |
Fan-tailed Monarch | Symposiachrus axillaris | Tari |
Hooded Monarch | Symposiachrus manadensis | Kwatu camp and trails |
Frilled Monarch | Arses telescophthalmus | Kiunga – K17 |
Leaden Flycatcher | Myiagra rubecula | Varirata |
Shining Flycatcher | Myiagra alecto | Kiunga – rivers – Kwatu |
Lesser Melampitta | Melampitta lugubris | Tari |
Long-tailed Shrike | Lanius schach | Tari |
Gray Crow | Corvus tristis | Kwatu camp and trails |
Torresian Crow | Corvus orru | POM to Sogeri |
Loria’s Satinbird | Cnemophilus loriae | Tari |
Obscure Berrypecker | Melanocharis arfakiana | Tabubil – Henry rd. |
Black Berrypecker | Melanocharis nigra | Kwatu camp and trails |
Mid-mountain Berrypecker | Melanocharis longicauda | Tari. aka Mid-mountain Berrypecker |
Fan-tailed Berrypecker | Melanocharis versteri | Tari |
Yellow-bellied Longbill | Toxorhamphus novaeguineae | Tabubil – Dublin creek rd. |
Pygmy Longbill | Toxorhamphus pygmaeum | Tabubil – Dyblin krick road |
Lesser Ground-Robin | Amalocichla incerta | Tari |
Torrent Flycatcher | Monachella muelleriana | Tari |
Lemon-bellied Flycatcher | Microeca flavigaster | Varirata |
Olive Flyrobin | Microeca flavovirescens | Kwatu camp and trails |
Papuan Flycatcher | Microeca papuana | Tari. aka Papuan Fly-Robin or Papuan Flycatcher |
Garnet Robin | Eugerygone rubra | Tari |
White-faced Robin | Tregellasia leucops | Varirata |
Black-throated Robin | Poecilodryas albonotata | Tari |
White-winged Robin | Peneothello sigillata | Tari |
Blue-gray Robin | Peneothello cyanus | Tari |
Ashy Robin | Heteromyias albispecularis | Kumul, Murur trail. armiti |
Papuan Scrub-Robin | Drymodes beccarii | Varirata |
Papuan Grassbird | Cincloramphus macrurus | Tari |
Welcome Swallow | Hirundo neoxena | POM to Sogeri |
Black-fronted White-eye | Zosterops minor | Tabubil – Henry road |
Metallic Starling | Aplonis metallica | Kiunga – rivers – Kwatu |
Singing Starling | Aplonis cantoroides | Pacific Adventist University |
Yellow-faced Myna | Mino dumontii | POM to Sogeri |
Golden Myna | Mino anais | Kwatu camp and trails |
Island Thrush | Turdus poliocephalus | Kumul |
Pied Bushchat | Saxicola caprata | Mount Hagen |
Red-capped Flowerpecker | Dicaeum geelvinkianum | Kumul, Murur trail |
Black Sunbird | Leptocoma sericea | Kiunga – flightless rail site road |
Crimson Finch | Neochmia phaeton | Kiunga Airport. ssp ‘white-bellied’ to be splited |
Grand Munia | Lonchura grandis | POM to Sogeri |
Gray-headed Munia | Lonchura caniceps | POM to Sogeri |
Hooded Munia | Lonchura spectabilis | Tari |
Black Munia | Lonchura stygia | Kiunga Airport |
Eurasian Tree Sparrow | Passer montanus | POM to Sogeri |
Eastern Yellow Wagtail | Motacilla tschutschensis | Tabubil – Hindenberg Wall |
Elfin Myzomela | Myzomela adolphinae | Kumul area |
White-breasted Fruit-Dove | Ptilinopus rivoli | Kumul area |