Tanimbar Friarbird

Small, sharp-billed, warbler-like bird. Note yellow patches on the throat and undertail, and bold white spectacles around the eye. Found in all types of forest, and less commonly in scrub, gardens, and plantations. Usually found in hyperactive flocks that can contain dozens of individuals. Often joins mixed flocks of other small birds. Most common call is a high-pitched, rising rattle. Song is a quiet, chatty sequence of “chew” notes. Shows bright yellow patches and white spectacles, unlike any jery. Smaller and more brightly colored than any tetraka. 

A large glossy-black starling with a graduated, pointed tail and brick-red windows in the wings that are striking in flight. The male and female have black and gray heads respectively. Pairs and flocks prefer rocky outcrops and gorges, but have adapted to buildings in urban areas; they avoid forests. The species gives a characteristic loud liquid oriole-like “wher-teooo” contact call and other musical whistles and warbles. It is often the default “red-winged” starling within its range, where it is most easily confused with Slender-billed Starling, but the latter’s weaker bill and longer graduated tail identify it.

An uncommon tanager of lowland and foothill rainforest. Male is black with orange flanks, white tufts around the edges of the wings, and yellow or orange crown and rump. Female is yellow-olive with a gray crown and white or yellowish throat; some females have a broken yellow eyering. Usually found in pairs that forage in lower to middle levels of the forest, sometimes with mixed-species flocks.