Emerald Starling

A brilliant and brash resident of thornscrub, cactus forests and other arid landscapes. Rather large-headed, often sporting a short shaggy crest, with a blue teardrop of bare skin around each eye, thus differing from most other orioles. Also note the long white slash on each wing. The Baltimore Oriole is passingly similar, but it is smaller, less bulky, and has less black on the chest than Venezuelan Troupial. Vocalizations are mostly loud and flutelike. They include an upward inflected “chu-wee,” a down slurred “shee-oo,” a quick series “thank-you, thank-you, thank-you, chu-eee, che-ee, chu-ee,” and “Chu-oo-eee-o.”

Rare, short-tailed parakeet. Small and green, with a light bluish wash on the face. Sexes similar. Compared to the similar (and usually more common) Dusky-billed Parrotlet, note the absence of a blue rump patch (also missing on female Dusky-billed), bluish face (green or yellow in Dusky-billed), and light pinkish bill. Likes to feed on seeding bamboo, and most often found in areas with extensive bamboo or in secondary forest along rivers. Flight calls are high tinkles that are lower and less metallic than Dusky-billed Parrotlet calls.

A spectacular chestnut-backed thrush with striking white facial patches, black-and-white wings, and bold pied markings below. Juvenile shows buff streaks on crown and back and buff throat. Terrestrial, feeding on the forest floor singly or in pairs within the lowlands and low hills. Unmistakable within its limited range on islands of Sulawesi and Kabaena. Mournful song is a phrase of several high-pitched whistled notes, “deee-der-doo” or “deee-der.” Calls include “chak” notes and a high-pitched “peep” call.