Biak Monarch

Small, drab flycatcher of dense undergrowth in humid lowlands. Big-headed with a short tail; grayish tan overall with a reddish wash near the base of the bill and yellow edges to wing feathers. Found in dense vegetation around forest edges, bamboo thickets, riverside vegetation, and agricultural areas, where it can locally be quite common, but often difficult to see. Gives stuttered trills of musical notes, “ti-trrrrrr” and a solid chip note, “tuck.”

Attractive ground-dwelling bird. Slender and long-tailed, bright yellow below with paler throat and grayish-olive back; extremely variable. Tail is black with white outer feathers; often pumps tail up and down while walking on the ground. Young birds lack yellow color, but have distinctive head pattern. Often seen near water. Listen for high-pitched, piercing call note. Common breeder on Arctic tundra from Alaska to Russia; found in grassy and waterside habitats in Southeast Asian wintering grounds and in migration.

Small hummingbird of desert habitats in southwestern U.S., western Mexico, and Baja. Compact and short-tailed with a slightly drooping bill. Male has a brilliant purple crown and throat that extends down to a point on each side; can appear black in poor lighting. Females are plainer with greenish back and dingy grayish underparts. Note pale eyebrow that wraps around the dark cheek, droopy bill, and dumpy, short-tailed shape to help separate from similar hummingbirds (especially Anna’s and Black-chinned). Wanders from the desert after breeding, visiting more varied habitats including backyards with sugar water feeders. Listen for very high-pitched song.