Rusty-winged Starling

Aplonis zelandica

A rather small, pale grayish-brown starling, paler on Vanikoro, with a smudgy black patch in front of the eye and distinctive rusty wings. Found in forest and secondary growth, especially montane forest. Similar to Polynesian Starling, but paler above, with a dark eye and more uniform wings. Common call is a melodious “zee-twee.”

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Aplonis zelandica
Authority
(Quoy & Gaimard, 1832)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Sturnidae
Genus
Aplonis

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

Tyrannulus elatus

Small, small-billed flycatcher usually found in the canopy. Yellow belly with gray head and pale whitish eyebrow. Bold white wingbars. Namesake yellow crown is only sometimes visible. Sexes alike. Voice is the most obvious identification feature: listen for plaintive whistled song, “dee-DEER!” Seen singly or in pairs, usually in open forested habitats such as edges or second growth.

Great Tinamou

Great Tinamou

Tinamus major

Large, almost tailless game bird that lives on the ground in humid tropical lowlands. Hunted for food and thus has been wiped out from many areas. Rarely seen, but haunting two-parted whistled song can be heard, especially early and late in the day and even at night. Sometimes flushes explosively from close range, crashing off through the forest understory. Plumage rather plain overall, warm brown above and grayish below, with grayish (not reddish) legs.

Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

A fairly large, colorful swallow. Usually easy to identify with its long, forked tail and dark rump. Iridescent navy-blue above with a rich orange throat and forehead. Underparts vary across range, from bright buffy-orange to whitish. Occurs in any open habitat, especially large fields and wetlands. Often seen foraging in flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of swallow. Typically nests close to human habitation; builds a muddy cup nest in a barn or under a dock. Listen for dry, scratchy “svit svit” calls. Note head and breast pattern and tail length to help separate from various similar species in Africa, Asia, and Australia (e.g., Welcome Swallow, Angolan Swallow, Pacific Swallow).

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