Vanuatu Petrel

Medium-sized eagle with massive rounded wings. Appears very small-headed in flight. Name is slightly misleading, as there are only really two color morphs, pale and black. Pale-morph adult is dark brown above with a white breast overlaid with dark streaks. Juvenile is much paler, with cleaner white underparts and less extensive striping and barring anywhere on the body. Dark morph is dark all over with paler outer wing feathers, and can be mistaken for dark Honey-Buzzards; look out for the hawk-eagle’s much longer wings and more slender profile. Inhabits forests, forest edges, and expansive parks and plantations.

Small and incredibly nondescript honeyguide. Note the small, sharp bill and the white outer tail feathers. Found along forest edge and in broadleaf woodland, especially miombo. Generally uncommon and inconspicuous, though it will join mixed flocks with other bird species. Vocalizations are a quick series of “jyet” notes and an explosive “skyeat” given in flight. Very similar to Wahlberg’s Honeyguide, but has an olive-green rather than brown back. Separated from other honeyguides by its small bill.

A distinctive barn-owl species confined to Taliabu in the Moluccas. Shows a characteristic heart-shaped pale face bordered with a broad black line. Underparts are dingy buff with scattered spotting. Upperparts, top of head, and nape are largely uniform dark brown with indistinct pale spots. Thinly distributed in a variety of habitats including forest, forest edge, bamboo thickets, and open areas across a broad elevational range. Unmistakable: the only barn-owl species on Taliabu. Call is a coarse, shrill high-pitched shriek: “sheeeer.”