Black Pitohui

Typical “crested myna,” dark gray overall (darkest on head and wings) with white vent and wing patches, yellow-orange bill and legs, and small tufted crest above base of bill. Contrary to its name, usually found in open areas such as farmland, fields, and parks. Similar in appearance to Javan Myna, but shorter-crested, paler overall, and with partially black bill (Javan has entirely yellowish-orange bill). Song consists of harsh, crackling, yet melodic notes.

Rather small, compact hawk; about the size of Red-shouldered Hawk, smaller than Red-tailed Hawk. Adults are solid brown above, barred reddish-brown below with bold black-and-white tail bands. Immatures similar, but with blotchier markings below and thin, diffuse tail bands. Distinctive shape in flight: note the short tail, straight leading edge of wing, and bulging secondaries in flight. Listen for high-pitched, piercing whistle coming from woodlands during breeding season. Known for forming massive flocks called kettles during migration, when it travels from the U.S. and Canada all the way to winter in Central and South America.

A common but inconspicuous bird of tepui forest canopy. Usually seen from below; note long shape accentuated by heavy bill and long tail. Male is gray above and white below, with a black crown, bold white eyebrow, wing spotting, and extensively white undertail. Females are similar to males but have more brown tones in plumage. Forages sluggishly in canopy of tepui foothill forest, searching for insects along branches and in leaf clusters. More common at lower elevations than many other tepui endemics (sometimes below 500 m). Usually in pairs and best detected by voice; often follows mixed-species flocks but also found away from them. Contact call is a rubbery smacking, often doubled and repeated in long series by members of a pair. Song is a hoarse, emphatic series of laughing notes, decelerating and dropping slightly in pitch. Similar to Spot-tailed and Todd’s antwrens (and may overlap with latter at lower elevations) but substantially larger, with bolder markings and more white in tail; song is similar to that of Todd’s but longer and hoarser.