Somali Tit

Tiny waterbird, the size of an elongated grapefruit. In nonbreeding plumage, they are black above and white below with a black stripe on the side of the neck and a white comma behind eye. Short, stout bill. Horizontal posture like a football floating on the water. Dives frequently when feeding. In winter, only likely to be seen from land following the passage of a storm, otherwise stays well offshore. Found singly or in flocks. Much smaller than guillemots or puffins, with fast wingbeats and low, twisting flight that recalls a flock of sandpipers. Breeds in large numbers in Greenland and Europe; rare at alcid breeding colonies in Alaska. Birds in breeding plumage have an all-black head and chest.

Typical tit, with a black, white, and gray pattern. The black bib continues as a dark stripe down the center of the underparts. There are white edgings on much of the wing and the outer tail. Found in miombo broadleaf woodland. Usually in pairs or small groups, and readily joins mixed-species flocks. Gives typical tit vocalizations including the classic “dree di-di-di” call and other whistled and chatty calls. Overlaps slightly in range with the similar Ashy Tit, but has a paler wing and underparts, and different habitat.

One of only a handful of resident tree-dwelling songbirds on Christmas Island, and the only white-eye. Tiny warbler-like bird with an olive-yellow crown and back, soft gray underparts, and a slightly broken white eye-ring. Found throughout the island in wooded habitats, particularly forest edges. Social and active, foraging energetically in small to medium-sized flocks. Gives a variety of calls, including loud chatters, sparrow-like chirrups, and high-pitched “djirr” notes.