White-browed Antbird
Myrmoborus leucophrys
Small, short-tailed antbird with a bold eyebrow. Male is slaty gray with gleaming white eyebrow. Female is brown above and white below with a black face and an orange eyebrow. Found in young forests and forest edges, skulking in dense undergrowth alone or in pairs. Listen for a long series of harsh, descending whistles.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Myrmoborus leucophrys
- Authority
- (Tschudi, 1844)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thamnophilidae
- Genus
- Myrmoborus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Blackish Oystercatcher
Haematopus ater
Distinctive large chunky shorebird of rocky coasts, adjacent sandy beaches and river mouths. The only all-dark oystercatcher in South America, readily identified by wholly dark plumage, long orange-red bill, thick pinkish legs. Found as singles and pairs, less often small flocks (mainly when roosting), and associates readily with Magellanic and especially American Oystercatchers. Loud piping whistles sound similar to American Oystercatcher.

Willie-wagtail
Rhipidura leucophrys
Large black-and-white songbird with fine bill and long legs. Black above, white below, with narrow white eyebrow. Similar Restless Flycatcher has white chin, no white eyebrow, and more peaked crown. Inhabits parks, farms, and grasslands, where often perches prominently, flicking the tail from side to side and giving a pleasing “chitit-chitit-chitit” call.

Rusty-winged Starling
Aplonis zelandica
A rather small, pale grayish-brown starling, paler on Vanikoro, with a smudgy black patch in front of the eye and distinctive rusty wings. Found in forest and secondary growth, especially montane forest. Similar to Polynesian Starling, but paler above, with a dark eye and more uniform wings. Common call is a melodious “zee-twee.”
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.