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# |
Species [range] |
Photo/art [see credits];
all photos taken in the wild |
Summary of reasons for this choice |
DR seen? |
41 |
Hyacinth Macaw
Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
[s. central South America] |
|
The
largest of the wonderful "blue macaws" of South America is found in the
Pantanal region of se Brazil and adjacent Paraguay & Bolivia. The
population has been seriously reduced by the illegal parrot trade. Two
smaller relatives are even more endangered: Lear's Macaw A. leari of northeastern Brazil (only a couple known colonies left), and Spix's Macaw Cyanopsitta spixii of interior Brazil (the last one known to exist in the wild has disappeared). |
Yes |
42 |
any
Neotropical
ground-cuckoo
in genus
Neomorphus
[tropical Central & South America] |
|
These
impressive, near-mythical birds of the forest floor are most often seen
with swarming ants; any of the five is a major highlight: Rufous-vented
N. geoffroyi (shown), Scaled N. squamiger, Banded N. radiolosus (the rarest), Rufous-winged N. rufipennis, Red-billed Ground-Cuckoo N. pucheranii. Together they range from Honduras to Bolivia but all are difficult finds.
[ Lesser Ground-Cuckoo Morococcyx erythropygus is in a different genus, can be locally common, and is not a forest bird; it is not part of this set. ]
|
No |
43 |
any Asian
ground-cuckoo
in genus
Carpococcyx
[tropical southeast Asia & Greater Sundas] |
|
The 3 Carpococcyx
species fill a similar niche as the Neotropical ground-cuckoos, but
they are not inveterate ant-followerers. The two in the Greater Sundas
are quite rare: Sumatran C. viridis and Bornean C. radiceus. The Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo C. renauldi
(shown) of southeast Asia is a bit more widespread and, with luck, a
bit more 'findable' (e.g., Khai Yai NP, Thailand) but still, each is an
incredibly impressive sight. |
No |
44 |
Helmet Vanga
Euryceros prevostii
[Madagascar]
|
|
Until
the family Vangidae was expanded, vangas were found only on Madagascar.
By far the most spectacular of endemics there is Helmet Vanga,
restricted to forests in the far northeast that are fairly difficult to
reach. It is so unique that it was initially placed in its own family
"Eurycerotidae." It is considered vulnerable as it relies entirely on
primary forest, and numbers are small within even the core of its
restricted range. |
No |
45 |
Volgelkop Bowerbird
Amblyornis inornatus
[w. New Guinea] |
|
A
Volgelkop Bowerbird isn't much to look but its creation is: the male
builds the most fantastic bower of any bowerbird, spending most of its
time working on the cone-shaped hut centered on a thick maypole,
decorated with a foyer and 'lawn' of colorful artifacts. It is
astonishing. The species is difficult to reach — restricted to the
Arfak, Tamrau & Wandammen Mts in the Indonesia half of New Guinea —
but the effort to get there can be rewarding. Many other bowerbirds are
extraordinary, but this artist tops them all. |
Yes |
46 |
Araripe Manakin
Antilophia bokermanni
[Brazil] |
|
This
is yet another choice that represents a larger group: any manakin is an
exciting little bird. In many species the males form leks to display to
females by wing-snapping, acrobatic jumping, and calls. This is not a
lekking species, but this very striking manakin was discovered only in
1996 in the Chapada do Araripe of northeast Brazil, where it is
considered critically endangered with a known range of only 1 sq.km.
Fortunately that locale is within a protected area that can be visited.
|
No |
47 |
Orange-throated Tanager
Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron
[Peru] |
|
Only discovered in 1964, it represents those "birds without a name" discovered by intrepid researchers [see Don Stap's (1991) A Parrot without a Name]. Wetmorethraupis
is a monotypic genus; striking, colorful, and very local within a
narrow altitudinal range (600-800m) in n. Peru & s. Ecuador. There
are other fabulous tanagers, including Multicolored Chlorochrysa nitidissima [see below], Glistening-green C. phoenicotis, Yellow-scarfed Iridosornis reinhardti, and Cherry-throated Nemosia rourei. |
No |
48 |
Rail-babbler
Eupetes macrocerus
[Peninsula Asia, Sumatra, Borneo] |
|
Birds
that walk on the forest floor are always exciting. The enigmatic
Rail-babbler became even more interesting when molecular evidence
showed it was not closely related to any other species, but was of a
relict lineage and deserving of its own monotypic family. Finding one
is difficult until one tracks its soft pitta-like whistle, and that can
be tough in thick lowland jungle. |
Yes |
49 |
Great Gray Owl
Strix nebulosa
[North America, n. Eurasia] |
|
The
largest owl on earth is all feathers. Other owls may be heavier but
this is the huge gray ghost of the Holarctic north woods is always a
great treat. I wanted one owl in the "top 50," and this is a very
special bird. [I know an Australian who would have chosen Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus]. Most of the big tropical owls are widespread but the world's smallest owl — Long-whiskered Owlet Xenoglaux loweryi of Peru — is rare, local, and would have been a good choice [luckily, I got to see it in 2015]. |
Yes |
50 |
Imperial Parrot
Amazona imperialis
[Dominica] |
|
The
largest and possibly most-endangered of all the big parrots in the
Lesser Antilles, perhaps 300 survive on Dominica. It is difficult to
find because (unlike other Amazona parrots) it does not form
flocks and it is secretive. The other endangered parrots of the Lesser
Antilles are also prizes: Red-necked Parrot A. arausiaca, also on Dominica; and St. Lucia Parrot A. versicolor and St. Vincent Parrot A. guildingii, on their namesake islands. Population sizes of each range from just about 300-900. |
Yes |
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| |
THESE SPECIES |
JUST MISSED THE CUT (or dropped down as another took its spot) |
|
Crested Argus
Rheinardia ocellata
[southeast Asia] |
|
There
is an assortment of wonderful and rare pheasants. This impressive
species has a much more restricted range than Great Argus Argusianus argus,
another great bird that had been on earlier versions of my "top 50"
list but is now comparatively easy to see. Much of the range of Crested
Argus is within Vietnam & Laos, countries that had been difficult
to visit until recently. I've been down-grading pheasants over the
years and now move this fine bird to 'also-ran' status but I would
still love to see one. |
No |
Lyre-tailed Honeyguide
Melichneutes robustus
[c. Africa] |
|
A
(perhaps) apocryphal story that I've heard is that John Cassin, the
pioneering ornithologist in the Congo basin, never saw this species
despite hearing it on many occasions. It is virtually impossible to see
from inside the forest canopy as it make "bouncing-down-the-steps"
display flights above the canopy, enhanced by booming notes from its
remarkable tail; the sound can be heard for a mile. Not much to see
when sitting but this little bird should be considered for the 'top 50'
for the difficulty in finding on and its very impressive display! |
Yes |
Yellow-crested Helmet-Shrike
Prionops alberti
[c. Africa] |
|
In African Silences,
Peter Matthiessen tells of asking famous African ornithologists about
the "best birds" in Africa. Most agreed on the 2 rockfowl, Congo
Peafowl & Shoebill, but this little known species, confined to
mountains in e. Dem. Rep. of Congo (previously Zaire), was a surprising
next choice by some. Surprising, perhaps, since it is hard to reach its
habitat, but it is striking rare. Recent surveys in the Itombwe Mts.
have found a few but very little is known of it. |
No |
Crested Ibis
Nipponia nippon
[China] |
|
Once
widespread in northeast Asia (including Korea & Japan), this unique
ibis was once on the edge of extinction. A small population exists in
the Qinling Mts. of Shaanxi Province, China, and numbers are slowly
increasing . An observer can now drive to a small village in which they
roost and nest; they fly to rice-paddies during the day. Other rare
Asian ibis that could qualify for top status include Giant Ibis Thaumatibis gigantea and White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni — both occur in Cambodia. |
Yes |
Carpentarian Grasswren
Amytornis dorotheae
[n. Australia] |
|
There are 10 Amytornis grasswrens in interior Australia. At one time Eyrean A. goyderi
was thought a lost species, but as the deserts became accessible it
proved to be reasonably numerous. No grasswren is really rare, but
Carpentarian may be the hardest to find in sandstone well to the north.
Black A. housei may be the remotest locale. Graeme Chapman's (1996) article in Wingspan
(RAOU mag) Vol 6, No 1, has spectacular photos of all. They all are
striking birds, shy and often very, very elusive. I want to see them
all someday. |
No;
but 5 other grass-wrens
seen |
Kokako
Callaeas cinerea
[New Zealand] |
|
Only two endemic New Zealand Wattlebirds still exist. Saddleback Creadion carunculatus
is doing reasonable well where reintroduced on predator-free offshore
islets. Kokako still lives in native forests on North Island but was
rare and hard to find. It has a behavior of 'bouncing' through tall
trees like a forest squirrel, and has an incredible vocal repertoire.
Rita & I hiked many miles in search of it in 1997, without success.
It is now recovering on some offshore islets (Tiritiri Matangi) and is
now much easier to see. |
Yes |
Multicolored Tanager
Chlorochrysa nitidissima
[w. Colombia
- w. Ecuador
] |
|
Two
near-endemics to Colombia — both of them range into w. Ecuador — are
perhaps the most beautiful of all tanagers: Glistening-green Tanager Chlorochrysa phoenicotis
and this species. I recall the unworldly 'waxy' look of this gorgeous
bird in the rich subtropical zone of the western slope of the western
Andes. There are just so many great tanagers — but one has to
prioritize them some how. |
Yes |
any
Crowned-Pigeon
Goura sp.
[New Guinea] |
|
The four large Crowned-Pigeons of New Guinea are each colorful, impressive, and (relatively) hard to see: Victoria G. victoria, Scheepmaker's G. scheepmakeri, Western G. cristata [shown left], and Sclater's G. sclateri.
Mostly ground-dwelling, they have no obvious relatives and are unique
among the pigeons in multiple respects. Any would be fine to see. |
No;
0 of 4 |
African River Martin
Pseudochelidon eurystomina
[c. Africa] |
|
Once
a near-mythical swallow, African River Martin has now been found to
breed on the Atlantic coast of Gabon and migrate along large rivers in
the western Congo Basin. Still, it remains largely overlooked despite
its unique behaviors and attributes. [Its Asian counterpart, White-eyed
River Martin Eurochelidon sirintarae of Thailand, is even more enigmatic and may be extinct.] |
Yes |
|
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CREDITS:
All the artworks
are copyrighted by the artist (as detailed below) and are either used
with permission or are posted here in reliance on the non-commercial
"fair use" doctrine; all rights are reserved by the artist
- Ian Lewington painted the Helmet Vanga; from Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 14 (Lynx Edicions)
- Jan Wilczur painted the Araripe Manakin; from Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 9 (Lynx Edicions)
- Richard Weatherly painted the Carpentarian Grasswren; from The Fairy-Wrens (1982) by Richard Schodde (Lansdowne Editions)
- Angels Jutglar painted the Imperial Parrot; from Threatened Birds of the World (2000) by Birdlife International (Lynx Edicions)
- J. C. Harrison painted the Crested Argus; from Pheasants of the World (1951) by Jean Delacour (Country Life)
- Walter Weber painted the Lyre-tailed Honeyguide; from The Honeyguides (1955) by Herbert Friedmann (U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 208)
- Kim Franklin painted the Yellow-crested Helmet-Shrike; from Shrikes & Bush-Shrikes (2000) by Tony Harris (Princeton Univ. Press)
- Arthur Singer painted to Western Crowned-Pigeon; from The Birds of the World (1960)
All the photographs
are copyrighted by the photographer (as detailed below) and are used
with permission; all rights are reserved to the photographer
- Kevin J. Zimmer photographed the Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo (Panama)
- Dan Singer photographed the Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo and Orange-throated Tanager (Peru)
- Don
Roberson photographed the Hyacinth Macaw (Brazil), Vogelkop Bowerbird
(Irian Jaya, Indonesia), and Great Gray Owl (Yosemite NP, CA, U.S.A.);
and also the Crested Ibis (China), Kokako (New Zealand), and African
River Martin (Gabon)
- Murray Lord photographed the Rail-babbler (Panti Forest, Malaysia)
- John Dunning photographed the Multicolored Tanager (Colombia), shown here from Plate 46 of his book Portraits of Tropical Birds (1970 — photo of briefly-captured bird)
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or the picks via links at right:
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