Gray-headed Bullfinch

Gregarious, strong-flying seabird. Adults are whitish with an apricot-colored head; note also the distinctive blackish arrow-shaped tail and pointed dark wingtips and hind wing. Flocks are often seen from headlands close to the shore. Constant flapping-and-gliding flight pattern and sharp plunge-diving when foraging are unique within range. Dingy brown immatures share the overall shape and flight pattern of adults. At sea, albatrosses hardly ever flap in flight. Other gannets and boobies are mostly absent from its range. Harsh, loud rollicking “wurrah, wurrah, wurrah” given at breeding colonies and while feeding.

Adult shows a dark brown crested head, a white throat with central streak, a rufous breast with bold streaking, a densely barred belly, and feathered thighs. In flight, note densely barred body and forewings, sparse bars on outer wing, and evenly barred tail. Immatures show white on head and underparts and dark brown above, with narrower tail bars. Wings broad, with bulging inner wing. Found in tall forest from lowlands to mountains. More heavily built, larger-headed, and larger-billed than Sulawesi Honey-Buzzard, and also has feathered thighs and more evenly spaced tail bars. Immature resembles young Rufous-bellied Eagle, but hawk-eagle lacks dark flanks and mask. Gives a loud “ke-ke-ke-ke…” call.

Vivid green bird of lowland evergreen forest canopy where it joins mixed flocks. Male has a black mask and throat. The black throat also has a dark blue center, though this can be difficult to see in poor lighting. Female is clean-faced save for a pale yellow throat and a trace of a blue mustache. Generally larger than Lesser Green Leafbird, but the two can be maddeningly difficult to tell apart. On the male Greater Green Leafbirds, look for a more extensive black mask and no traces of yellow on the forehead, while on the female, look for a yellow (not green) throat.