PAPUA HIGHLIGHTS JULY 9 –22, 2017

King of Saxony -of-Paradise (Dion Hobcroft)

LEADER: DION HOBCROFT LIST COMPILED BY: DION HOBCROFT

VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS, INC. 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE, SUITE 1003 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78746 WWW.VENTBIRD.COM PAPUA NEW GUINEA HIGHLIGHTS JULY 9–22, 2017 By Dion Hobcroft

A male Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise in all his finery at Varirata National Park. (Dion Hobcroft)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 We were back in the fascinating country of Papua New Guinea to indulge in the fantastic birding this remote country offers. There is no place quite like it and, while at times a bit challenging to find the , the rewards are immense. Including West New Britain, we recorded 334 of birds. Here is an account of our adventures in the land of birds-of-paradise.

With “all of the termites holding hands,” we checked in, took off, cleared immigration on two borders ( and PNG), and transferred to the hotel and checked in, so that we had a few spare hours in the afternoon to visit the grounds of the Pacific Adventist University close to the city of Port Moresby.

We started by examining the avenue bower of the Fawn-breasted Bowerbird, a remarkable construction of sticks with a central avenue oriented exactly east- west. The owner of the bower churred at us and gave some decent scope views. As we explored through the grounds, we tallied a respectable 49 species with highlights including Rajah Shelduck, Plumed Whistling-Duck, Australian Gray Teal (quite rare in PNG), Straw-necked Ibis, superb views of Orange-fronted Fruit- Dove, Papuan Frogmouth, and Red-cheeked . In a flock of the endemic Gray-headed Munia we found a couple of the much scarcer Chestnut-breasted Munia. Another luminary was a glowing male Painted Turtle.

A male Painted Turtle found basking at PAU. (Dion Hobcroft)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 The next morning we were into the hill of Varirata National Park. A howling gale did not help our cause, and as branches and trees fell around us, it looked like “a hard day in the office.” After an initial rush at a fruiting fig tree that turned up the poisonous Hooded Pitohui, a Pink-spotted Fruit-Dove, and both Boyer’s and Yellow-eyed cuckoo-shrikes, the birds all but evaporated. The jet stream roared through the display area of the Raggiana Bird-of-Paradise, and not a single bird was present. For nearly two hours we hardly saw a thing, and then the day gathered momentum. The ice-breaker was actually a mammal, a Southern Gray Cuscus, an arboreal marsupial we spotted with its head sticking up out of a Eucalyptus tree hollow. Then a Barred Owlet-nightjar (looking rather like a marsupial) projected its be-whiskered head from another tree hollow.

A Beautiful Fruit-Dove attracted to a fruiting fig tree at Varirata National Park. (Dion Hobcroft)

Then the mixed flocks arrived like the cavalry, and we began to get some good birds. These included Chestnut-bellied , Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Spot- winged and Frilled monarchs, a female Growling Riflebird, Black Berrypecker,

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 Stout-billed Cuckoo-shrike, Yellow-bellied and Fairy gerygones, Pale-billed Scrubwren, Tawny-breasted , and Gray Whistler. We had a bonus when trying to tempt a Painted Quail-thrush across a trail —both Sooty Thicket- Fantail and a Yellow-footed Brush-Turkey waltzed across. The best birds though, were a very responsive pair of Chestnut-backed Jewel-Babblers, and everyone managed a good view of these excessively shy birding demons. Then there was a stunning male Superb Fruit-Dove. Time for lunch!

The curious Hooded Pitohui, an Old World oriole with poisonous feathers! (Dion Hobcroft)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 After lunch the wind died off, and we enjoyed a Beautiful Fruit-Dove calling away. Another sojourn into the gave a superb scope view of the luminous Brown- headed Paradise-Kingfisher, and then we scoped a Blue-winged Kookaburra. Finally a chorus of Raggiana Birds-of-Paradise males erupted, and we spent a fabulous hour as the males periodically and rather unpredictably erupted into an ecstatic frenzy, providing excellent views and photographic opportunities. We spent a final session exploring the Eucalyptus woodland on the forest edge, and it provided another rush of new birds including more good ones like the rare White- bellied Whistler, good looks at Papuan Black and Dusky , White- throated Honeyeater, Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, Forest Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee- eater, and both Black and Common cicadabirds. It ended up being a very good day.

The Purple-tailed Imperial-Pigeon is a forest interior species that is often difficult to encounter. This one was found in Kiunga. (Dion Hobcroft)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 We arrived in Kiunga to be met with several elegant Australian Pratincoles gracing the runway. In the afternoon we ventured into the forest interior of this giant lowland equatorial jungle to a backdrop of leaden skies and showers. As is typical, birds were hard to come by, but we did get some jewels. None more so than a male King Bird-of-Paradise that we scoped in his vine tangle display area as he churred intermittently. He pirouetted about and allowed us to examine the details of his intricate . At one stage we had three scopes set on him. Then a Purple-tailed Imperial-Pigeon rocked up and was equally obliging. Finally, we moved to the display site for the Greater Bird-of-Paradise. They were coy to begin with, and we scoped a couple hidden on cryptic perches. Finally they relented and came out dancing in the exposed tree top; it was quite the performance.

A male Rufous-bellied Kookaburra gave great views at Kiunga. (Dion Hobcroft)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 One participant inflicted a nasty laceration by banging their head on a metal door of the Land Cruiser. It made for a visit to the Kiunga Hospital, where a medic shaved the site, doused it in betadine, dressed it, and prescribed antibiotics: all for three dollars US. It was an interesting experience, and our fellow traveler won trooper of the tour award. Unfortunately, accidents do happen from time to time on tours, so please be careful!

A male Blyth’s Hornbill sails over the ; the wings make a sonic whooshing. (Bob Traverso)

Our full group, however, assembled for the boat trip up the Fly, Elevara, and Ketu Rivers. It was largely overcast and cool, although we had to put up with a few showers in the afternoon. We started at the display area for a male Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise. The male though, was highly skittish and turned up for only a couple of seconds before taking off. Several participants blinked and missed it! Another birding group arrived so I decided to vacate the site. The birds came thick

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 and fast for most of the day. Good sightings included Gray-headed Goshawk, Large Fig-Parrot, Ornate Fruit-Dove, Azure Kingfisher, Puff-backed Meliphaga, Lowland Peltops, and the somewhat mysterious Yellow-eyed Starling. Perennial favorites like Blyth’s Hornbill, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Palm Cockatoo, Parrot, and Black-capped Lory performed well. At lunch we scoped the beautiful Golden Cuckoo-shrike sharing a tree with Golden Mynas. Orange-breasted Fig- Parrot and male Red-cheeked added more color.

We found the elusive Mountain Kingfisher in Ambua Lodge, but it was a patient battle to get the view. (Dion Hobcroft)

Then we spent an hour or more working the forest interior of the flooded forest and had a good run with several skulkers like White-bellied Thicket-Fantail, White- bellied Pitohui, and the mega Common Paradise Kingfisher. There were tons of pigeons —new ones including Pinon, Zoe, and Collared Imperial-Pigeons plus Dwarf and Orange-bellied fruit-doves. There were more raptors including several Pacific Bazas, Whistling and Brahminy kites, and at least two White-bellied Sea- Eagles. Plenty of Australian breeding birds winter in the forests here and were

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 9 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 represented by abundant Dollarbirds with good numbers of Sacred Kingfisher and a few Pacific Koels and Channel-billed Cuckoos. Extracurricular activities included a camp of Great Flying-foxes and a timid Monitor. After a huge day it was dinner, bird list, beer, and bed!

We returned to the Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise site the next morning to find it flooded. Luckily, we could get the display post in the scopes through some foliage where it was not underwater. This worked well, and the male made several visits and did several display moves, shimmying up and down the post, although no female was present. Well-pleased with this, we turned our attention to a party of Emperor Fairy-wrens that performed well. A tame Rufous-bellied Kookaburra kept the photographers happy. We had some fun trying to locate a Hook-billed Kingfisher calling from the usual impossible location in a rattan vine tangle, this time in knee-deep water. Long-tailed Buzzard and Variable Goshawk were seen well. A quick check of the airstrip produced a tame pair of Buff-banded Rails and a surprise White-shouldered Fairy-wren, here of the distinctive lorentzii subspecies that has a buffy female plumage. After a pleasant siesta we explored out to the Boystown Road, some 14 km out of town, and spent a relaxing session scoping birds as they perched up in trees on the jungle edge. A beautiful male Yellow- billed Kingfisher, Red-flanked Lorikeet, Gray-headed Cicadabird, Black-billed Cuckoo-Dove, Moustached Treeswift, and Streak-headed Honeyeater all gave lengthy views, and a recalcitrant male was seen by some. Janene was lucky to see the Flame Bowerbird, looking in the right direction! There were plenty more species besides these including Lowland Peltops again, flyover fig and pygmy-parrots, and a good variety of pigeons.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017

A superb Sooty Owl seen well in the Tari Valley. (Dion Hobcroft)

We managed to revisit Boystown for ninety minutes the next morning and squeeze a few last lowland bird species onto the trip list before our charter flight to Tari. Amongst the list additions were Obscure, Plain, and Long-billed , Rufous-backed Fantail, Crinkle-collared , and very much a surprise pair of Papuan King-Parrots. We said our farewells to Edmund and the fabulous kitchen ladies (Sandra, Alice, and Naomi) and headed to the airstrip. Our flight with pilot George was smooth and scenic, doing a few duck and weaves between the clouds, and we landed in the main town of Tari. We were whisked up to the lodge to check in, have lunch, and start seeing a whole new bunch of birds.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017

The Long-tailed Buzzard is one of the most distinctive of New Guinea’s endemic raptors, and its habit of soaring over the forest means it is quite frequently encountered. (Dion Hobcroft)

After lunch we began to immerse ourselves into the fantastic montane forest birding this site offers. Common but showy species like Great Woodswallow, Smoky Honeyeater, and Yellow-browed Melidectes led the charge. Small insectivores like Buff-faced Scrubwren, Brown-breasted Gerygone, , and Blue-gray Robin added another element. Fruiting trees in the lodge gardens attracted female Loria’s Satinbird and Stephanie’s . Moving further afield we started to encounter some of the famous birds-of-paradise with superb views of the iconic King of Saxony with its bizarre occipital antenna plumes, the elusive Short-tailed Paradigalla, and a male .

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 12 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017

The amazing male King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise flares its occipital plumes near the Tari Gap.

(Dion Hobcroft)

Our first full morning in Tari was one of the best of the tour. The fruiting trees attracted a male and female Superb Bird-of-Paradise, female Lawe’s , female Blue Bird-of-Paradise, and female , while Spotted Berrypecker was another good sighting of an elusive species. Higher up at the Tari Gap we had good looks at both Yellow-billed and Orange-billed lorikeets, Papuan Grassbird, and Red-collared . We ventured back into the forest and had

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 13 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 excellent encounters with male Brown Sicklebill, male Ribbon-tailed Astrapia, male King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise, a stunning Black-breasted Boatbill and Blue- capped Ifrita, Black-bellied Cicadabird, great looks at the often timid Black- throated Honeyeater and, best of all, scope views of a pair of the difficult Black- mantled Goshawk. A surprise Long-tailed Buzzard drifted by, unusual at this high altitude. We also found the of Red-breasted Pygmy-Parrot. After a break we dropped down the valley to a patch of forest that produced an amazing Sooty Owl, one of the birds of the tour. We then explored some cloud forest near the Gap, and with overcast conditions the birds came forth, including a beautiful male Plum-faced Lorikeet, the wonderful Eastern Crested Berrypecker, White-winged Robin, and Regent Whistler. We had a great time watching a carnivorous marsupial called a Speckled Dasyure getting buzzed by agitated and scrubwrens.

A male Superb Bird-of-Paradise at Tonga, Enga Province. (Bob Traverso)

Our second full day in Tari commenced again at the fruiting trees in the lodge gardens. A male Loria’s Satinbird was well-behaved, as was a female Black Sicklebill. We chanced upon an excellent mixed flock that allowed us to scope Canary Flycatcher, Black-throated Robin, , Fan-tailed Berrypecker, Red-breasted Pygmy-Parrot, Rufous-backed Honeyeater, and Sclater’s and Brown- backed whistlers. The birds of the morning for most though, were the cosmic

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 14 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 Stella’s Lorikeets (a recent split from Papuan Lorikeet) that we enjoyed in the scope as they foraged in the flowers of a tree. Moving higher, we had an excellent encounter with the New Guinea Harrier, including a rare dark morph male display flying and vocalizing above the grassland. We played catch-up on several birds-of- paradise for some folks that had been under the weather the previous day. To round out the morning we visited Joseph’s amazing orchid garden to feed his pet Doria’s Tree Kangaroo, a rare macropod he had saved from going into the pot.

The Speckled Dasyure is a carnivorous marsupial found in the cloud forest of the mountains of central New Guinea. (Dion Hobcroft)

Shortly after lunch we were deluged in a massive thunderstorm. The storm deluge had partly flooded my room and doused my iPod and laptop as they were charging. My iPod froze in response to the freshwater bath. Luckily, it came back to life that evening! The rain continued pretty much unabated, and the session

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 15 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 was saved by a male Wattled Ploughbill that took a lot of patient tracking with us hiding under umbrellas before it finally settled and allowed the scope to reveal its dangling pink fleshy cheeks. This most unusual bird is now placed in its own family.

A Male Blue Bird-of-Paradise at Tonga, Enga Province. (Bob Traverso)

A final morning in the Tari Valley was productive. We had superb looks at Rufous- naped Bellbird, Mountain Mouse-Warbler and, best of all, the difficult to find Mountain Kingfisher that took about half-an-hour to track down. Another rarity was a superb Meyer’s Goshawk we watched soaring over the lodge. As we embarked on our flight to Mount Hagen, a Pygmy Eagle was spotted soaring over the forest that surrounds the bush airstrip we departed from. George again piloted us in the PAC-750 to land in Mount Hagen. We spent some time at the TNT office in town while we waited for our delayed transfer. It worked well, as we caught up with Ornate Melidectes, Elfin Myzomela, Gray Shrike-thrush, and Black- headed Whistler. On the road to Kumul Lodge our good luck with raptors continued when we spotted a Black-winged Kite. Once at the lodge, we just

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 16 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 relaxed at the feeder where our first Brehm’s Tiger-Parrots rounded out a good day. Some folks went on a night walk, which was quiet except for a distant Feline Owlet-nightjar calling and several bleating frogs of the Cophixalus .

There are many obscure in New Guinea. This is a male Spotted Berrypecker, a rare species in a monotypic genus and New Guinea endemic family. The male, however, has no spots, only the female! (Dion Hobcroft)

A plan had been hatched for the morning, and it involved looking for the male Blue Bird-of-Paradise in forest near Tonga village. Our luck was in, and we had two males that gave stellar views. Superb Bird-of-Paradise was in good form as well, adult males admired in fruiting trees, breast shields resplendent. Birds otherwise were a bit subdued, and we returned to the lodge. We worked quite hard in the cloud forest interior and had some good rewards like Modest Tiger- Parrot, Mountain Fruit-Dove, Orange-crowned Fairy-wren, and a very well- behaved Lesser .

Our final morning of the mainland tour was very enjoyable, although it required an early start. At dawn we found ourselves in Kama village at the display site of a Lesser Bird-of-Paradise. Initially it was very retiring, but finally it relented and flew in over our heads for a great view with lots of calling. While waiting for the “bop”

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 17 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 to come out, we had a steady procession of new birds. These included an excellent Yellow-breasted Bowerbird, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Mountain Meliphaga, and what appeared to be Green-fronted White-eyes (thanks to a tip from friends Jay, Doug, and Erik), a recent split from Black-fronted White-eye. After purchasing some bilums from the local ladies, we left this rather idyllic and scenic site to return to the lodge, stopping at the Lai River for a dapper Torrent Flycatcher and a Great Cormorant.

Once back at the lodge we had one last walk through the superb cloud forest. We spotted a Black-tailed Antechinus, a small carnivorous marsupial, scampering about a tree trunk. Two fully-plumed male Ribbon-tailed did a dance over our heads —wow. A final last hurrah came when I whistled some Brown Quail up in the grassland at the forest edge, thanks to sharp-eyed Dawn for spotting them. We suffered the ignominy of a cancelled flight at the end of the day. Thankfully I secured some good hotel rooms, and we spent a comfortable night before flying out the next day.

BIRDS

Plumed Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni)

Wandering Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata)

Radjah Shelduck (Tadorna radjah)

Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)

Gray Teal (Anas gibberifrons)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 18 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 Black-billed Brush-Turkey (Talegalla fuscirostris)

Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora)

Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)

Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)

Little Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos)

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia)

Pied Heron (Egretta picata)

Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis coromandus)

Rufous Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)

Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis moluccus)

Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis)

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

Long-tailed Honey-buzzard (Henicopernis longicauda)

Pacific Baza (Aviceda subcristata)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 19 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 Pygmy Eagle (Hieraaetus weiskei)

Grey-headed Goshawk (Accipiter poliocephalus)

Variable Goshawk (Accipiter hiogaster)

Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus)

Black-mantled Goshawk (Accipiter melanochlamys)

Meyer’s Goshawk (Accipiter meyerianus)

New Guinea Pied Harrier (Circus [spilonotus] spilothorax)

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)

Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)

Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)

Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa)

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)

Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea)

Australian Pratincole (Stiltia isabella)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 20 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) Introduced

Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia amboinensis)

Black-billed Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia nigrirostris)

Great Cuckoo-Dove (Reinwardtoena reinwardtii)

Stephan’s Dove (Chalcophaps stephani)

Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida)

Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis)

Wompoo Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus magnificus)

Pink-spotted Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus perlatus)

Ornate Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus ornatus)

Orange-fronted Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus aurantiifrons)

Superb Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus superbus)

Beautiful Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus pulchellus)

White-breasted [Mountain] Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus rivoli)

Orange-bellied Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus iozonus)

Dwarf Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus nanus)

Purple-tailed Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula rufigaster)

Pinon Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula pinon)

Collared Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula mullerii)

Zoe Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula zoeae)

Torresian Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula spilorrhoa)

Papuan Mountain Pigeon (Gymnophaps albertisii)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 21 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017

Greater Black Coucal (Centropus menbeki) Heard only

Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus)

Dwarf Koel (Microdynamis parva)

Pacific Koel (Eudynamys cyanocephalus)

Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae)

Rufous-throated Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx ruficollis)

Little Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx minutillus)

Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo (Cacomantis castaneiventris) Heard only

Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis) Heard only

Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus)

Sooty Owl (Tyto tenebricosa)

Papuan Boobook (Ninox theomacha) Heard only

Feline Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles insignis) Heard only

Mountain Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles albertisi) Heard only

Barred Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles bennettii)

Papuan Frogmouth (Podargus papuensis)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 22 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017

Papuan Spinetailed Swift (Mearnsia novaeguineae)

Glossy Swiftlet (Collocalia esculenta)

Mountain Swiftlet (Aerodramus hirundinaceus)

Uniform Swiftlet (Aerodramus vanikorensis)

Moustached Treeswift (Hemiprocne mystacea)

Blyth’s Hornbill (Aceros plicatus)

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus)

Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii)

Rufous-bellied Kookaburra (Dacelo gaudichaud)

Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii)

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)

Hook-billed Kingfisher (Melidora macrorrhina) Heard only

Yellow-billed Kingfisher (Syma torotoro)

Mountain Kingfisher (Syma megarhyncha)

Common Paradise-Kingfisher (Tanysiptera galatea)

Brown-headed Paradise-Kingfisher (Tanysiptera danae)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 23 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)

Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)

Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus)

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

Yellow-capped Pygmy-Parrot (Micropsitta keiensis)

Red-breasted Pygmy-Parrot (Micropsitta bruijnii)

Papuan King-parrot (Alisterus chloropterus)

Eclectus Parrot (Lorius roratus)

Red-cheeked Parrot ( geoffroyi)

Brehm’s Tiger-Parrot (Psittacella brehmii)

Modest Tiger-Parrot (Psittacella modesta)

Yellow-billed Lorikeet (Neopsittacus musschenbroekii)

Orange-billed Lorikeet (Neopsittacus pullicauda)

Orange-breasted Fig-Parrot (Cyclopsitta gulielmitertii)

Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma)

Large Fig-Parrot (Psittaculirostris desmarestii)

Plum-faced Lorikeet (Oreopsittacus arfaki)

Red-flanked Lorikeet (Charmosyna placentis)

Papuan [Stella’s] Lorikeet (Charmosyna papou stellae)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 24 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 Greater Streaked Lory (Chalcopsitta scintillata)

Black-capped Lory (Lorius lory)

Coconut [Rainbow] Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus)

Black-eared Catbird (Ailuroedus melanotis) Heard only

Flame Bowerbird (Sericulus aureus)

Yellow-breasted Bowerbird (Chlamydera lauterbachi)

Fawn-breasted Bowerbird (Chlamydera cerviniventris)

Papuan Treecreeper (Cormobates placens) Heard only

Wallace’s Fairywren (Sipodotus wallacii)

Orange-crowned Fairywren (Clytomyias insignis)

Emperor Fairywren ( cyanocephalus)

White-shouldered Fairywren (Malurus alboscapulatus)

Plain Honeyeater (Pycnopygius ixoides)

Streak-headed Honeyeater (Pycnopygius stictocephalus)

Puff-backed Meliphaga (Meliphaga aruensis)

Mountain Meliphaga (Meliphaga orientalis)

Mimic Meliphaga (Meliphaga analoga)

Black-throated Honeyeater ( subfrenatus)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 25 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 Obscure Honeyeater (Lichenostomus obscurus)

Ornate Melidectes (Melidectes torquatus)

Belford’s Melidectes (Melidectes belfordi)

Yellow-browed Melidectes (Melidectes rufocrissalis)

Rufous-banded Honeyeater (Conopophila albogularis)

Smoky Honeyeater (Melipotes fumigatus)

Long-billed Honeyeater (Melilestes megarhynchus)

Dusky Myzomela (Myzomela obscura)

Red Myzomela (Myzomela cruentata)

Papuan Black Myzomela (Myzomela nigrita)

Elfin Myzomela (Myzomela adolphinae)

Red-collared Myzomela (Myzomela rosenbergii)

Rufous-backed Honeyeater (Ptiloprora guisei)

Grey-streaked Honeyeater (Ptiloprora perstriata)

White-throated Honeyeater (Melithreptus albogularis)

Tawny-breasted Honeyeater (Xanthotis flaviventer)

Helmeted Friarbird (Philemon buceroides)

Rusty Mouse-Warbler (Crateroscelis murina) Heard only

Mountain Mouse-Warbler (Crateroscelis robusta)

Large Scrubwren ( nouhuysi)

Buff-faced Scrubwren (Sericornis perspiccilatus)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 26 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 Papuan Scrubwren (Sericornis papuensis)

Pale-billed Scrubwren (Sericornis spilodera)

Gray Thornbill (Acanthiza cinerea)

Fairy Gerygone (Gerygone palpebrosa)

Yellow-bellied Gerygone (Gerygone chrysogaster)

Large-billed Gerygone (Gerygone magnirostris)

Brown-breasted Gerygone (Gerygone ruficollis)

Papuan (Rufous) Babbler (Pomatostomus isidorei) Heard only

Loria’s Satinbird (Cnemophilus loriae)

Crested Satinbird (Cnemophilus macgregorii)

Black Berrypecker (Melanocharis nigra)

Mid-mountain Berrypecker (Melanocharis longicauda)

Fan-tailed Berrypecker (Melanocharis versteri)

Spotted Berrypecker (Melanocharis crassirostris)

Crested Berrypecker (Paramythia montium)

Blue Jewel-Babbler (Ptilorrhoa caerulescens) Heard only

Chestnut-backed Jewel-Babbler (Ptilorrhoa castanota)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 27 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017

Black-breasted Boatbill (Machaerirhynchus nigripectus)

Yellow-breasted Boatbill (Machaerirhynchus flaviventer)

Great Woodswallow (Artamus maximus)

White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorhynchus)

Mountain Peltops (Peltops montanus) Heard only

Lowland Peltops (Peltops blainvilli)

Black-backed ( mentalis)

Hooded Butcherbird (Cracticus cassicus)

Black Butcherbird (Cracticus quoyi)

Stout-billed Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina caeruleogrisea)

Hooded Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina longicauda)

Barred Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina lineata)

Boyer’s Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina boyeri)

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina papuensis)

Golden Cuckoo-shrike (Campochaera sloetii)

Varied Triller (Lalage leucomela)

Black-bellied Cicadabird (Edolisoma montanum)

Common Cicadabird (Edolisoma tenuirostre)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 28 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 Grey-headed Cicadabird (Edolisoma schisticeps)

Black Cicadabird (Coracina melas)

Wattled Ploughbill (Eulacestoma nigropectus)

Rusty Pitohui (Colluricincla ferruginea)

White-bellied Pitohui (Colluricincla incerta)

Little Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla megarhyncha)

Grey Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica)

Black Pitohui (Melanorectes nigrescens) Heard only

Regent Whistler (Pachycephala schlegelii)

Sclater’s Whistler (Pachycephala soror)

Brown-backed Whistler (Pachycephala modesta)

Grey Whistler (Pachycephala simplex)

White-bellied Whistler (Pachycephala leucogastra)

Black-headed Whistler (Pachycephala monacha)

Rufous-naped Bellbird (Aleadryas rufinucha)

Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)

Hooded Pitohui (Pitohui dichrous)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 29 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 [Southern] Variable Pitohui (Pitohui kirhocephalus)

Brown Oriole (Oriolus szalayi)

Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti)

Spangled (Dicrurus bracteatus)

Black Fantail (Rhipidura atra)

Sooty Thicket-Fantail (Rhipidura threnothorax)

White-bellied Thicket-Fantail (Rhipidura leucothorax)

Willie- (Rhipidura leucophrys)

Rufous-backed Fantail (Rhipidura rufidorsa)

Friendly Fantail (Rhipidura albolimbata)

Chestnut-backed Fantail (Rhipidura hyperythra)

Blue-capped Ifrita (Ifrita kowaldi)

Golden Monarch ( chrysomela)

Fan-tailed Monarch ( axillaris)

Spot-winged Monarch (Symposiachrus guttula)

Frilled Monarch ( telescopthalmus)

Leaden Flycatcher ( rubecula)

Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 30 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017

Grey Crow (Corvus tristis)

Torresian Crow (Corvus orru)

Trumpet Manucode (Phonygammus keraudrenii) Heard only

Crinkle-collared Manucode (Manucodia chalybatus)

Glossy-mantled Manucode (Manucodia ater)

King of Saxony Bird of Paradise (Pteridophora alberti)

Lawe’s Parotia (Parotia lawesii)

Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucos)

Superb Bird of Paradise ( superba)

Eastern ( [magnificus] intercedens)

Western Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris [magnificus] magnificus) Heard only

Black Sicklebill ( fastuosus)

Brown Sicklebill (Epimachus meyerii)

Short-tailed Paradigalla (Paradigalla brevicauda)

Stephanie’s Astrapia (Astrapia stephaniae)

Ribbon-tailed Astrapia (Astrapia mayeri)

King Bird of Paradise ( regius)

Blue Bird of Paradise (Paradisea rudolphei)

Raggiana Bird of Paradise (Paradisea raggiana)

Greater Bird of Paradise (Paradisea apoda)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 31 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 Lesser Bird of Paradise (Paradisea minor)

Lesser Melampitta (Melampitta lugubris)

Lesser Ground-Robin (Amalocichla incerta) Heard only

Torrent Flycatcher (Monachella muelleriana)

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (Microeca flavigaster)

Papuan [Canary] Flycatcher (Microeca papuana)

Black-sided Robin ( hypoleuca) Heard only

Black-throated Robin (Poecilodryas albonotata)

White-winged Robin (Peneothello sigillata)

Blue-grey Robin (Peneothello cyanus)

Ashy Robin (Heteromyias albispecularis) Heard only

Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica)

Island -Warbler (Phylloscopus poliocephalus)

New Guinea Grassbird (Megalurus [timoriensis] macrurus)

Black-crowned White-eye (Zosterops atrifrons)

Green-fronted White-eye (Zosterops minor)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 32 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017

Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata)

Island Thrush (Turdus poliocephalus)

Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallica)

Yellow-eyed Starling (Aplonis mystacea)

Singing Starling (Aplonis cantoroides)

Yellow-faced Myna (Mino dumontii)

Golden Myna (Mino anais)

Red-capped Flowerpecker (Dicaeum geelvinkianum)

Black Sunbird (Leptocoma sericea)

Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae)

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) Introduced

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Introduced

Blue-faced Parrotfinch (Erythrura trichroa) Heard only

Hooded Munia (Lonchura spectabilis)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 33 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017 Grey-headed Munia (Lonchura caniceps)

Chestnut-breasted Munia (Lonchura castaneothorax)

MAMMALS

Black-tailed Antechinus (Antechinus melanurus)

Speckled Dasyure (Neophascogale lorentzii)

Southern Gray Cuscus (Phalanger intercastellanus)

Great Flying-fox (Pteropus neohibernicus)

REPTILES

Painted Turtle (Emydura subglobosa)

Mangrove Monitor (Varanus indicus)

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 34 Papua New Guinea Highlights, 2017