Shelley's Starling

A long, slim pipit-like lark with a slender bill, a bold white eyebrow, and warm-and-dark spangled upperparts. Pairs forage for invertebrates in open thorny savanna, preferring short-cropped grass and open grazed fields. In a characteristic display the male flies low to the ground before flying directly up 8 to 10 meters, then closing its wings and plummeting to the ground while emitting a “weeeeoooo” whistle. It also gives a clear, very high-pitched “tseeet-tsooooe” and other whistles. Its range does not overlap with any of the similar long-billed larks. Rufous-naped Lark differs from Short-clawed Lark by being chunkier, with a crest and a rusty nape and wings; the smaller Sabota Lark is more compact, with bolder facial markings.

Beautiful bee-eater with a blue fore-crown, green back, yellow throat, rufous underparts, and deep-blue breast band. In flight, reveals a striking pattern of rufous patches and black bars on the wings and tail. Found in moist, open habitats including savanna, woodland, cultivation, and forest edge. Calls are short, wooden rattles. Very similar to Little Bee-eater, but separated with care by slightly larger size and by the pale patch along the top and back of the yellow throat.

A striking black-and-white flycatcher-like songbird confined to Tanahjampea Island. Black above, with a black hood and upper chest and a crisp white lower breast, belly, rump, and tips to outer tail feathers. Black areas are brown in juvenile, which has a buff belly and rump. Cocks tail regularly. Found singly or in pairs in forest, mangrove, and scrub in lowlands and foothills. Often joins mixed-species flocks. Unique within its tiny range. Song is a mournful, repeated whistle, “weeoo-weeoo...”. Also gives a rasping, agitated “grrr” and metallic, grating “weer” calls.