Biak Whistler

A bulbous-headed brown bird with a comically large bill. Brownish overall, with a rich chestnut cap and paler underparts. Face is liberally splattered with black splotches, the largest patch on the ear where it forms a thick crescent. Pale yellow bill is oddly twisted, making it seem as if the bird is smiling. Prefers brushy habitats with dense cover, including bamboo stands and heavily overgrown field edges, in foothills up to montane areas. Joins mixed flocks. Can be difficult to see in thick cover, but will perch up to sing. Song a repetitive “aw-wi-WI-WI-Wi-WI” whose pitch and cadence may vary.

A large sparrow that is often identified mainly by its lack of distinguishing features! Does show a pale eyebrow and two pale wingbars. The yellow spot on the throat is difficult to see. Found in savanna and woodland, including miombo, often in small, loose groups. Call is a repeated “chyup”. Similar to Streaky-headed Seedeater but with a broader eyebrow and obvious wingbars. Separated from female sparrows by the more obvious pale eyebrow and lack of at least some rufous coloration on the back.

A medium-sized bird, brownish above and pale buff below, with a bright rufous rump and tail and a distinctive buffy line behind the eye. Found in tall rainforest, where it occurs mainly in the midstory and canopy, but occasionally in the understory. Will follow mixed species flocks at all levels. Feeds on insects and forages actively, often investigating dead leaf clusters and other accumulations of detritus. Song is a short, weak series of squeaking notes that fades away; call is a hard doubled note. Most similar to Rufous-tailed Foliage-gleaner but somewhat larger and more likely to occur at lower levels in the forest; both tail and rump are rufous in Rufous-rumped.