Cinnamon-bellied Saltator

A chunky, dingy-looking, thick-billed songbird. Upperparts dark olive-brown, with a grayish head and a pale buff wash on the underparts. Note the pale bill with a dark tip. A rare species confined to canopy of tall, mature hill forest on Sangihe Island at sites where this habitat persists on ridges. Typically encountered in small groups or pairs. Most similar to Sangihe Golden-Bulbul, but Sangihe Whistler has a bicolored bill and lacks a yellow throat and face. Its loud song consists of around four repeated phrases. Also gives “churr” and sharp “wit” calls.

Adult is unique, a vision in glossy black and pale pink. Juvenile is brown with an orange bill. Breeds in colonies on steppes and winters in open and wooded habitats. Gathers in huge numbers to roost, often mixing with other species at roost sites. Flocking birds keep up a constant cacophony of dry chattering calls. 

Typically dull mid-sized greenbul with a long bill and tail. There is geographical variation, with the western birds more yellowish below, and the eastern birds more whitish. Usually shows a distinctive pale eye-ring. Found in the thick undergrowth and mid-story of forest at middle and high elevations, usually in small groups. The call starts with slow and chatty notes, then accelerates into a grating, up-and-down series. Somewhat similar to Gray-olive Greenbul, but larger, with a darker bill and legs and usually some yellowish tones on the underparts. Similar to brownbuls, but more olive-green on the back and yellowish below.