Javan Whistling-Thrush
Myophonus glaucinus
Chunky dark blue bird. Brightest blue on the nape and shoulder. Readily distinguished from similar species by shape, uniform plumage, and dark bill. Often spreads its short tail in a rather unimpressive gesture. Endemic to Java and Bali, where it inhabits foothill and montane forests at 800-2400 meters. Typically encountered close to or on the ground, but will also perch up on branches at mid-height. Favors areas with rocky outcrops, sometimes (but not always) near water. Can be quite tame, especially in areas frequented by people. Gives a sharp, resonant “tsee-chk-chk!”
Identification
Chunky dark blue bird. Brightest blue on the nape and shoulder. Readily distinguished from similar species by shape, uniform plumage, and dark bill. Often spreads its short tail in a rather unimpressive gesture. Endemic to Java and Bali, where it inhabits foothill and montane forests at 800-2400 meters. Typically encountered close to or on the ground, but will also perch up on branches at mid-height. Favors areas with rocky outcrops, sometimes (but not always) near water. Can be quite tame, especially in areas frequented by people. Gives a sharp, resonant “tsee-chk-chk!”
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Myophonus glaucinus
- Authority
- (Temminck, 1823)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Myophonus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Principe Speirops
Zosterops leucophaeus
A bulky, mostly pale white-eye with a whitish head and belly and gray-brown wings and tail. Small to large groups join mixed flocks in forest and plantations throughout Príncipe. Calls include a high-pitched chittering, uttered as a group, and a repeated “tsit-tit-cher-it-it” song. Principe Speirops may join the same flocks as Principe White-eye, which is slightly smaller and much darker, lacking the distinctive white head and underparts.

Willis's Antbird
Cercomacroides laeta
Small, perky antbird. Males are slate-gray with an often-concealed white patch on their backs and narrow white tail tips (lacking in the western subspecies). Females have an olive-gray back and are tawny-buff below. Found at the forest edge and in second growth, where it forages in pairs in the understory and is not normally associated with mixed-species flocks or army-ant swarms. The similar Dusky Antbird has a white tipped tail in the area of overlap with the western subspecies. The song is easy to recognize, a sharp, high, positively joyful “puh-wéedi-wéedi-wéedi-wéedi.”

Ocellated Poorwill
Nyctiphrynus ocellatus
Dark brown nightjar of humid forests. Smooth reddish brown overall with small black spots, a clean white throat band, and white tail corners. In flight, appears dark brown overall with white tail corners but no white wing patches. Look for it in mature rainforest, with or without dense understory. Song is a single quavering, reverberating note, “PEEur,” like plucking a taut string.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.