PARTRIDGE PIGEON

Photographed at Darwin River, May 2016

771           PARTRIDGE PIGEON               Geophaps smithii

Australia        (615)

Found in woodlands with short grass; open, rocky or sandy ground by streams, watercourses; roadsides; areas of newly burned grass or bush; seldom far from water. 25-28 cm. Range: coastal nw Aust., from Kimberley (WA), s to Cockatoo Spring; Top End (NT), s. to Mataranka-Mallapunyah; possibly into extreme nw Q. Locally common, sedentary.

RUFOUS-BANDED HONEYEATER

Photographed at Fogg Dam, Northern Territory May 2016

770             RUFOUS-BANDED HONEYEATER                 Canopophila albogularis

Australia          (614)

Found in watercourse vegetation, mangroves, paperbark, monsoon forests, eucalypt woodlands, coastal scrubs, cultivation, gardens. 12-13 cm. Range: coastal n. Aust. and islands: from Top End (NT), s. to Victoria R. Downs-Katherine-Roper R.; e. on Gulf coast to w. and ne Cape York Pen. (Q), s to c. Lakefield NP. Common.

RAINBOW PITTA

Photographed at Douglas River Crossing, Northern Territory May 2016

769            RAINBOW PITTA             Pitta Iris

Australia           (613)

Also known as Black-breasted Pitta. 16-19 cm. Found in monsoon rainforest, vine scrubs on watercourses, bamboo thickets, mangroves. Range: pockets of suitable habitat from coastal nw Kimberley and islands (WA) to Top End (NT) e to Groote Eylandt. Fairly common, sedentary.