Bougainville White-eye

A large cartoonishly-proportioned parrotbill of hilly forests. Oversized orange bill and gray head set it apart from any other parrotbills in its range. Namesake gray head is marked with a thick black eyebrow and throat, and contrasts smartly with a rich brown upper body and off-white breast and belly. Calls frequently, ranging from short trills and whistles to a harsh, rolling chatter. Often moves as a part of a mixed flock.

Only nuthatch in most of its range with gray upperparts and brick-red underparts. From crown to upper mantle, the gray is a lighter shade than the remainder of the upperparts. Strong dark eye-stripe starts from the bill, broadening toward the sides of the neck, contrasting with the white throat. Female is similar but has lighter chestnut underparts and dirty white on the throat. In a narrow zone where it overlaps with the very similar Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Indian differs in the contrastingly paler crown and nape, the smaller bill, and the lack of white scallops on the vent. Primarily seen in deciduous forests; occurs in pairs or family groups, sometimes along with Velvet-fronted Nuthatches, with which it broadly overlaps in range. Call is a loud, mellow, rapid trill of 7-8 notes: “pi-pi-pi-pi-pi-pi.”

Medium-sized flycatcher-like bird found in lowlands and foothills from Venezuela to Peru. Male dark blackish above and gray below. Female is rusty overall, but paler buffy on the belly. Note gray lores on the female to help separate them from other rusty-colored becards. Singles or pairs can be found in middle to upper levels of forest or open woodlands.