Vietnamese Cutia

A fairly small bird of wooded areas on the Bay Islands. Low crest is flattened at the front and rounded at the back. Male is glossy black with a purplish-blue iridescence. Female is medium gray above, pale gray below with brownish flight feathers and a darker mask, contrasting with the pale throat. Male similar to male Shining Flycatcher, but Biak is found in forest rather than waterside thickets and is smaller and less glossy. Often found in pairs and female has gray rather than rufous upperparts. Voice, a simple up-and-down whistled song and raspy call.

A distinctive crow with a strikingly long bill, noticeable even in flight. Adults have purple-glossed blackish plumage and a prominent pale eye. Juveniles are dark-eyed and lack gloss. Occurs in the canopy of any areas with trees, where it is typically seen in small, active, vociferous groups. Restricted to the north Moluccas. Noticeably longer-billed than local Torresian Crows. Gives high-pitched “krak-krak-krak” calls repeatedly and often.

Rare finch restricted to arid lowlands and foothills of western Ecuador and far northwestern Peru. Plumage is golden with black wings marked with yellow stripes; male has a dark hood. May overlap with the very similar Hooded Siskin in the foothills of the Andes, and birds seen in this region are not always identifiable. Saffron Siskin is slightly brighter on average, and male’s back is cleaner, lacking dusky markings. Usually seen in small flocks that feed mainly on seeds in trees, bushes, and tall grass.