Hooded Treepie

A cryptically-colored ground-dweller without the bright colors and bold head patterns boasted by many of its relatives. Mottled brown overall with a grayish-white face and a speckled orange throat. Forages in dense undergrowth like other partridges, usually in mature foothill and lowland forest. Listen for its song, a series of ascending breathy whistles which culminate in an echoing series of ringing notes. As with many other forest gamebirds, very difficult to see in general; most likely encountered at staked-out blinds, or, if one is lucky, walking quietly along roadsides and clearings at dusk and dawn.

Brightly-colored male has a bright golden belly, a black chest band and head, and a clean white throat. He appears to have a black “shawl” with golden wings and a black tail. Female is considerably duller, being olive-brownish above and yellow below, with a brown breast. Endemic to Vanikoro, in the southeastern Solomons, where it is found in most island habitats, though avoids villages. Voice includes a sequence of sparsely spaced, thin, uninspired whistles. Formerly grouped with Utupua Whistler and Nendo Whistler under “Temotu Whistler.”

Large jay of humid forest and edges including savanna and premontane forest in the tepui region. Combination of size and black-and-white plumage unlike any other species in range. Moves through forest in noisy groups but can be hard to see well. Sometimes accompanies foraging flocks of oropendolas and caciques, feeding on flowers and fruit. Calls include a variety of whistles and grunts.