Pohnpei Flycatcher

Myiagra pluto

Small monarch flycatcher with uniformly dark glossy plumage. Endemic to Pohnpei Island, where it is the only small all-dark bird on the island; male Micronesian Starling is also glossy and dark, but is much larger, with yellow eyes. Inhabits forests and forest edges, often “flycatching” from a perch close to the ground. Gives a series of bright rising whistles, as well as a squeaky descending chatter and harsh rasping notes.

Taxonomy

Some authorities consider the Pohnpei flycatcher to be a subspecies of the oceanic flycatcher. Alternate names include the Pohnpei broadbill, Ponape broadbill, Ponape flycatcher and Ponape Myiagra flycatcher.

Scientific name
Myiagra pluto
Authority
Finsch, 1876
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Monarchidae
Genus
Myiagra

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Barratt's Warbler

Barratt's Warbler

Bradypterus barratti

A skulky, dull brown warbler with a long and graduated tail, a pale grayish eyebrow, and a throat that is lightly streaked. It creeps around mouse-like in thick undergrowth and tangles in forest and forest edge. It is also found in isolated pockets of scrub, often adjacent to streams, and is frequently detected and identified by its song, mostly delivered between September and December: 2-3 sweet “tsiit” notes followed by a loud trill of 15-20 harsh “tchui” notes. It also has a strident chipping alarm call “tddd-ddr-ddr-ddr-ddr-tt.” The similar Knysna Warbler differs from Barratt’s Warbler by its shorter tail, darker underparts, less pronounced throat streaking, and different song.

Black-throated Huet-huet

Black-throated Huet-huet

Pteroptochos tarnii

Fairly common but elusive; heard far more often than seen. Favors native temperate forest and adjacent shrubbery, especially bamboo. Feeds on the ground by scratching with its big feet in leaf litter, and runs very quickly and stealthily. Agitated birds can call loudly from middle level perches, cocking their tail. Nests in burrows, but can nest high up in tree hollows. Plumage distinctive, with pale eyering, dark slaty throat and breast, and rusty belly. No range overlap with Chestnut-throated Huet-huet.

Dusky Parrot

Dusky Parrot

Pionus fuscus

Medium-sized, stocky rainforest parrot. Can appear mostly black even at fairly close range. Tends to occur as single birds or pairs rather than large groups. Flight style distinctive; birds appear to keep wings below the horizontal, rolling from side to side. Usually first detected flying overhead; descends rapidly and silently into forests to feed on fruit and flowers in the canopy. In flight, confusion is possible with Blue-headed Parrot, but Dusky has different flight style with shallower wingbeats and different calls.

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