Biak Whistler

A spectacular enormous weaver endemic to São Tomé, with a robust barbet-like bill and a bulky head. Adult male has a black head and a chestnut collar that extends to the breast. Female is dull, with a buff wash on the breast. Juvenile is like the female, but browner on the upperparts. Fairly common in forest, forest edge, and plantations. Found in pairs and small groups. Song is a winding gurgle that ends with a wheezing fizzle: “drrt-drrt-drrt-grrzzzztztztztz.” Other weavers on São Tomé are much smaller, and their males lack chestnut coloration. 

Medium-sized brown, heavily streaked seedeater. Note the streaked underparts and boldly marked face with a streaked crown, white eyebrow, and broad dark brown patch through the eye. Found in woodland habitats including miombo. Gives a pretty, musical up-and-down song of whistles and trills. Calls include a nasal rising “tsewee.” Similar to Black-eared Seedeater, but the ear markings are dark brown rather than black. Formerly treated as a subspecies of Reichard’s Seedeater.

Small black-and-white eagle. Has a compact, powerful shape and the hint of a crest. The upperparts are black and the underparts very white except for black flanks. In flight, the front of the underside of the wing is solidly black. Found in humid forest. Secretive; rarely soars. Calls include a loud, repeated “kwe-kwe-yaaa” and a simple rising whistle. Similar to other hawk-eagles, but lacks streaking or spotting on the underparts. Easily separated in flight, when Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle shows a solid black patch across the front of the underwing.