Spot-winged Rosefinch

A small honeyeater of wooded habitats on New Guinea’s SE Islands. Dull brown color with streaky breast, pale throat and long, curved bill. Male has a thin, vertical, red line down its throat, and some areas, males lack the white throat. The only other myzomela in range is the Papuan Black Myzomela, but White-chinned has a streaked chest. Gives a rather jumbled, whistled song. Call, a simple high-pitch “chip”.

Long known to ornithologists as something different (and informally called “Millpo Tapaculo”), this bird was finally described as a new species in 2020. It inhabits grassy, rock-strewn areas above tree line at high elevations in the eastern Andes of central Peru. Plumage is mainly gray with tan rear parts that are faintly barred, and it sometimes shows a faint, whitish eyebrow; female is browner than male. Similar in appearance to several other tapaculos, and best identified by range and voice. Song, often given from atop a rock, is a seemingly endless series of raspy chip notes.

A mostly red-headed malimbe of forest and forest edge, sometimes occurring on farms, where it is partial to foraging on larger branches. Body is overall glossy black with a distinctive red head and a small black mask around the eyes. Has a red crest, but this can be hard to see at certain angles. Occurs in small groups or with mixed-species flocks, sometimes with other species of malimbe. Crested Malimbe is unique with its combination of red chin in males and females, red restricted to the throat on the undersides, and black vent. Like other malimbes, song and calls include mechanical rasps, dry chatters, and complex combinations of the two.