Japanese Accentor

A large, long-tailed, heavy-billed cuckooshrike. Male has a complete black hood. Female lacks hood, but head is darker gray to blackish, without a clear black throat. Both sexes are largely pale gray above and white-bellied. Singles or pairs inhabit upper levels of forest and edges in lowland and foothills. Confined to the Moluccas. Larger and heavier-billed than Halmahera and Common Cicadabirds, and white belly separates it from those species and from Stout-billed Cuckooshrike. Distinguished from Black-faced Cuckooshrike by the black hood that includes nape and crown. Gives a harsh, accelerating rattle, “grrgrrgrr-grrRT-GRRRT-GRRRT,” and a high-pitched, soft whining “wheeeyoo.”

This species inhabits humid forest and edge in tropical lowlands. Usually found in pairs or small groups, moving actively in vine tangles and leafy thickets at low to middle levels in understory and edge. Both sexes distinctive with bold white dots on the wings and a graduated, white-tipped tail. Male is black overall. Female is slaty gray above and rich rusty below.

Small unobtrusive raptor. Adults have a gray body (darker above than below), and rufous thighs and eyes. The throat is white with a very thin dividing black line helping to distinguish it from the similar Bicolored Hawk. In flight, adults have distinctive rufous underwings (white in juveniles), and three pale bands on the tail. Juveniles are streaked below with barred rufous thighs. Found in the canopy of primary forests and at borders. Often seen soaring high overhead.