Moluccan Swiftlet
Aerodramus infuscatus
A small dark brown swift of with a narrow whitish rump band; endemic to Sulawesi and the Moluccas. Includes the former Seram, Halmahera, and Sulawesi Swiftlets. Upperparts are darker brown than underparts. Flies acrobatically over a wide variety of habitats and elevations, often in flocks with other swiftlet species. Drab plumage and fast-flying habits can make this species difficult to distinguish from other small swifts; note pale, well-defined rump band (absent in Glossy Swiftlet, absent or poorly-defined in Uniform Swiftlet, and bright white in House Swift). Chitters squeakily.
Identification
The Moluccan swiftlet (Aerodramus infuscatus) is a small bird in the swift family Apodidae that is found on Sulawesi and on the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. Two subspecies, the Sulawesi swiftlet and the Seram swiftlet, have sometimes been considered as separate species.
Taxonomy
Genus: Aerodramus; Family: Apodidae; Order: Apodiformes.
- Scientific name
- Aerodramus infuscatus
- Order
- Apodiformes
- Family
- Apodidae
- Genus
- Aerodramus
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Palau Fantail
Rhipidura lepida
Small, with a long, often fanned tail. Mostly pale orange-red with a gleaming white throat and a black chest with gray sides. Note the small black eye mask. Mostly resident in forest, but sometimes forages in open scrub. Common vocalization is a soft whistle or raspy “me-EE-ow.”

Wood Stork
Mycteria americana
Huge, long-legged, black-and-white waterbird, about the size of Great Blue Heron. White body with black flight feathers. Adults have a wrinkly bald head and fairly dark bill; juveniles have paler bill and more messy feathering on head and neck. Bill is thicker and more curved than herons. Forages mainly for fish by moving open bill through water until it feels prey. Found in wetlands, particularly flooded swamps and shallow ponds. Often soars, sometimes with vultures. In Middle and South America, compare with Jabiru, which is even larger than Wood Stork and has entirely white wings.

White-bellied Whistler
Pachycephala leucogastra
A chunky, thick-billed sparrow-sized songbird. Male is uniform gray above with a black head and a conspicuous white throat patch bordered below by a thick black chest band. Underparts are dull whitish. Female lacks black on head. Juvenile resembles a browner female, but is boldly streaked below. Singles and pairs can be found in upper levels of savanna woodlands, mangroves, and plantations. Differs from Black-headed Whistler in having a clear-cut white throat. Song is a slurred “soooweet” or “weet-weet-weet…” ending with either a whipping note, or a short jumble of strident notes.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.