Stripe-headed Sparrow

A small honeyeater with a downcurved bill. Striking male has a candy-apple red hood, back, and rump, contrasting with the black wings, tail, and chest band and the white belly. Female is uniform gray-brown except for a diagnostic faded red wash on the face and throat. Singles or pairs inhabit lowland forests, forest edge, mangroves, and open wooded areas, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks. Unmistakable, as it is the only myzomela in its restricted range in the Banda Islands. Song comprises several introductory notes followed by a rapid warble: “chi-chi-churrrrrrrr.”

An often conspicuous resident of a wide variety of habitats including woodlands, scrub, and suburbia. Its long, white-tipped tail and largely gray plumage eliminate all other species except for Northern Mockingbird. Unlike Bahama, the Northern Mockingbird has large white patches on wings (most easily seen in flight), white outer tail feathers, and is unstreaked below, except in immature plumage. Streaking on young Northern Mockingbirds is mostly on chest, not concentrated on sides, as it is in the Bahama Mockingbird. Song is a series of phrases, each repeated several times; contrary to its name, it does not mimic other species.

Fairly large flycatcher, mostly gray-brown above with a pale throat and pale yellow belly. Different subspecies vary in the tone of the upperparts, which may be warm or cold toned but all have dark bills. Found in savannas, semi-open woodlands, and at forest edges. Best distinguished from similar flycatchers by call: a short “police-officer” whistle “prrrih.”