Giant White-eye

Brown-and-white streaked bird with a large head and yellowish bill; white crescent on chest is helpful for identification but can be difficult to see. Inhabits lower and middle levels of tall rainforest, where it is easily overlooked as it sits motionless for long periods before darting to tree trunks, foliage, or ground for large insect and small vertebrate prey. Not common and usually encountered alone. Song is a long, very rapid series of soft piping notes, slowly falling in pitch and only audible at close range; calls include a high, thin, descending whistle, repeated at long intervals. Unlikely to be confused in most of range; distinguished from others in genus by streaked back.

An inconspicuous little bird (plumage blends well with bark) of woods, forests, and gardens with larger trees. Usually seen as singles or pairs, creeping along trunks and branches using its tail for support, like a mini-woodpecker. Probes in crevices for insects and spiders, and often spirals up then drops to low on the next tree and spirals up again. In areas where Short-toed Treecreeper also occurs, the two species are often not safely distinguished without considerable experience; look for “uneven steps” on the wing, whiter sides, and slightly shorter bill. Listen for high, thin “tseee”s and trills. Song is a lovely series of falling whistles, typically preceded by short trills and concluded with a flourishing rising whistle.

Tiny and rather unobtrusive bird with brownish upperparts and luminous lemon-yellow underparts. Superficially similar to female and juvenile Olive-backed Sunbirds, but note gerygone’s short, uncurved bill. Forages in parks, forests, and plantations, where it often joins mixed flocks moving through the middle and upper layers. Song is variable throughout its range but invariably includes buzzy notes with obvious rises and falls in pitch.