article thumbnail

Picathartes – Africa’s strangest birds

10,000 Birds

The family Picathartidae consists of two very unusual birds; White-necked or Yellow-headed Picathartes , endemic to the Upper Guinea forests of West Africa; and Gray-necked or Red-headed , restricted to Lower Guinea forests of Central Africa. They also occur in Liberia, Ivory Coast and Guinea.

article thumbnail

Victoria’s Riflebird, a Bird-of-paradise

10,000 Birds

Adding to their mystique is the remoteness of their home, the undeveloped and rarely visited islands of New Guinea and eastern Indonesia. The females, having selected a mate, will raise the chicks on their own. To birdwatchers they are a difficult pilgrimage that few don’t want to attempt at some point, but few manage.

Indonesia 189
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Sources

article thumbnail

Local Specialties at Lake Junin

10,000 Birds

Llamas and wild guinea pigs are also found here. A local birding guide born and raised at the very shores of Lake Junin. There are a bunch ground tyrants, negritos, miners, canasteros, and pipits on the pastures, puna grasslands ans Andean scrub that surround the lake. Cesar has the local knowledge to find every bird in the area.

article thumbnail

COMMENTS ON COLLECTING BIRDS: A Reply

10,000 Birds

While not in New Guinea and the tropical Pacific, he helped establish natural history-based undergraduate student programs that integrate indigenous communities with wildlands conservation in threatened landscapes of western North America and Central America.” How it raised its chicks? Or how gracefully it flew?

article thumbnail

Yellow Bittern

10,000 Birds

It is an adherent to fresh water lakes, canals and swamps from India through East Asia, Indonesia and New Guinea. The classic bittern habit of freezing when alarmed with its bill raised can be seen in this species, though it allows very close approach or flushes if you get too close without seeing it.

Singapore 169
article thumbnail

“Peacocks and Picathartes: Reflections on Africa’s Birdlife”

10,000 Birds

A lot of destinations were mentioned, with Central and South America leading the way, New Guinea, Indonesia and Australia appearing only at the middle of the list, and African countries (South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar) lagging at the end of the list.

Congo 264
article thumbnail

Best Bird of the Year 2011

10,000 Birds

Shore Plover by Duncan Wright Adam couldn’t choose just one: I must admit I’m a sucker for big, colorful, showy birds and although New Guinea rightly claims the prize in this category, I haven’t had the privilege of journeying to that magical island this year, so for my bird of the year I have chosen Cock-of-the-rock.

2011 181