Pollen's Vanga

Widespread and often fairly common small dark grebe of lakes, ponds, wetlands; also river mouths and coastal waters, mainly in winter. Like all grebes dives well and can stay underwater for a long time. No similar species in range. Handsome breeding birds have a bold white “fan” on the sides of the head. Immature and nonbreeding birds have a dark cap and a streaked whitish face. Falkland population is larger and blacker, and is likely a different species.

A small, dull babbler with a short tail. Brown with a gray head and pale underparts. Dark gray crown, faintly streaked breast, and brighter buffy wash on the flanks eliminate similar-looking Abbott’s Babbler. Similarly drab White-chested and Sooty-capped babblers have longer tails and bills. Found in lowland and foothill forests. Typical song is a sharp chip followed by a whistled note or two: “chi puh-weee!”; Javan birds add a longer, ascending whistle to the end.

Plain apalis with gray upperparts, dark brown on the head, and pale underparts. Found in middle and high-elevation forest. Usually in pairs or small groups which will join mixed-species flocks. Most often in the canopy. The main vocalization is a rough, repeated “chree” which can be accompanied by a rattling call. Very similar to Gray Apalis, but in limited overlap zone, separated by the browner head and by white spots on the tip of the tail rather than all-white outer tail.