Mussau Fantail

Small, compact antbird with a short tail. Males have black-and-white streaks on the head, mantle, and underparts; brown upperparts; and rusty flanks. Females have a brownish mantle and a streaked head. Found in the understory of humid forests, favoring edges and tree-falls. The song starts with 4-5 clear and increasingly loud notes and finishes with descending harsh notes, similar to Spix’s and Rondonia Warbling-Antbirds. The call, a series of typically four screechy notes, is diagnostic of Manicore Warbling-Antbird, as are the stronger rufous edges to the tail.

A tiny bird of foothill forest mid-storey and canopy. White underparts, rufous back with two dotted white wing bars, a black cap with white cheek stripe and pale blue flecked crown. Males have a white throat whereas females have a buff throat. Moves in mixed flocks and doesn’t cock its tail like other fairywrens. Similar to female Emperor Fairywren but Wallace’s is white to the chin and has wing bars. Song, a series of high-pitched notes beginning with a longer one “siiiii! sisisisisisisisi!”.

Small bird with thin pointed bill. Upperparts gray-brown, underparts off-white, with dark streaking on throat and breast, reddish-brown rump, white flecking on forecrown, and dark red eye. Often cocks tail upright. Similar Brown Thornbill has brown rather than gray-brown upperparts. Chestnut-rumped and Buff-rumped thornbills both have pale eyes, unstreaked chest, and mostly black tails. Inhabits dry woodland and scrubland, also in wetter habitats in southwestern edges of its range.