GOULD'S BRONZE-CUCKOO

Photographed on Saibai, Torres Straits, March 2018

1247                   GOULD'S BRONZE CUCKOO                Chrysococcyx minutillus russatus

AUSTRALIA                   742

Found in north-eastern Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea. Taxonomic distinctiveness is uncertain and often lumped with the Little Bronze Cuckoo. Habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.

COLLARED IMPERIAL PIGEON

Photographed on Boigu Island, Torres Straits, March 2018.

1246                COLLARED IMPERIAL PIGEON                 Ducula mullerii

AUSTRALIA                 741

Native to New Guinea and adjacent islands; found in northern and southern New Guinea and the Art Islands, and recorded on Boigu and Saibai. Inhabits lowland rainforest, swamp forest, mangroves and riverine vegetation. Feeds on fruit from forest trees and insects.

Photographed on Saibai, Torres Straits, March 2018

RED-CAPPED FLOWERPECKER

Photographed on Boigu Island, Torres Straits, March 2018.

1245                    RED-CAPPED FLOWERPECKER                  Dicaeum geelvinkianum

AUSTRALIA                   740

Also known as Papuan Flowerpecker; recently split from Olive-crowned Flowerpecker. Endemic to New Guinea and adjacent islands; in Australia found on Saibai and Boigu. Found in woodlands, including secondary growth and mangroves. Eats small fruits, especially mistletoe, insects and spiders.

SINGING STARLING

Photographed on Boigu Island, Torres Straits, March 2018.

1244                 SINGING STARLING                   Aplonis cantoroides

AUSTRALIA                739

Found in New Guinea and some adjacent islands, Bismarck Archipelago, Admiralty Islands and Solomon Islands; have been recorded in Australia on Boigu and Saibai Islands. Inhabit forest edges, gardens and cultivated areas with trees, urban areas and coconut groves. Eats figs and other soft fruit, sometimes insects.

HOUSE SWIFT

Photographed on Boigu Island, Torres Straits, March 2018.

(* 875)                  HOUSE SWIFT                    Apus nipalensis 

AUSTRALIA                  738

Found in Japan, Nepal and Southeast Asia; vagrant to Australia. Capable of flying long distances by shutting off hemispheres of their brain in-flight. used to be considered a subspecies of Little Swift.

UNIFORM SWIFTLET

Photographed on Boigu Island, Torres Straits, March 2018.

1243                  UNIFORM SWIFTLET                 Aerodramus vanikorensis 

AUSTRALIAN             737

Also known as the Vanikoro or Lowland Swift. Widespread form Philippines through Wallace, New Guinea and Melanesia; vagrant to Australia, recorded in Cape York and Torres Strait Islands. Forages for insects on the wing primarily in lowland forests and open areas. Nests in caves, uses echolocation, rare in birds, to navigate.