UKARUMPA, PNG — I was aware of the Most Beautiful Birds Meme that’s been spreading across the bird-blogging community, but unfortunately it took me two weeks to realize that Duncan had tagged me.

The blogosphere (OK, I don’t like the word either, but what else can you say?) already brims with diverse responses, but I’ll try to bring a unique twist.

Here are the rules: Post a list of the 10 birds you consider most beautiful; you may limit the list to the ABA area (continental United States and Canada) or use a geographic area of your choice. Mark birds you have seen with an asterisk. Tag 3 bloggers to keep it going.

I’ve selected 10 birds that live in Papua New Guinea, and yes, that was a challenge. For the birds I’ve seen, you can click the asterisk to search this blog for posts about them.

1. Brahminy Kite* (Haliastur indus). A white-and-chestnut raptor in a deep blue sky — that, my friends, is a beautiful sight.
2. White Tern* (Gygis alba). If heaven has birds, there will surely be White Terns. And maybe there, their rasping voices will be replaced with angels’ songs.
3. Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica). Pigeons are diverse and spectacular in the South Pacific. It seems a shame to skip the fruit doves, but my favorite (so far) lives in Vanuatu. And the crowned-pigeons — amazing! But the Nicobar Pigeon’s iridescent blues and greens, elongated neck feathers, comely shape, and pure white tail win it this spot.
4. Duchess Lorikeet (Charmosyna margarethae). Rainbow Lorikeet would have been an easy cliche (however sincere), but this lorikeet is a striking combination of red, green, yellow, and black. It lives in the mountains of the Solomon Islands, including the island of Bougainville, which is currently part of PNG.
5. Common Paradise-Kingfisher (Tanysiptera galatea). Bright colors and long, spatulate tail streamers — I wish for a paradise-kingfisher!
6. Superb Pitta (Pitta superba). Is it true that beauty is enhanced by inaccessibility? This pitta is black with brilliant patches of red and blue. It’s endemic to Manus Island, and my chances of seeing it are almost nil, even if I do visit the island later this year.
7. Crested Berrypecker (Paramythia montium). The sleek elegance of a waxwing combined with glowing blue, yellow, white, and black — or at least that’s how I imagine this bird.
8. Red-collared Myzomela (Myzomela rosenbergii). It was tempting to pick the Mountain Myzomela because I’ve actually seen that species, but I can’t ignore this ebony and crimson cousin.
9. Long-tailed Shrike* (Lanius schach). The tasteful gray, black, white, and cinnamon patterns of this shrike have stopped me in my tracks more than once.
10. Blue Bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea rudolphi). Just one bird-of-paradise? I’ve always preferred blue to pink, and this bird looks more like a regent than a vaudeville performer. King Bird-of-paradise was a close second, but there’s just something about those electric-blue plumes….

I photographed this pair of White Terns on Wuvulu Island last July.

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