Luzon Island-Thrush

Tiny woodpecker of gallery and coastal forests, including mangroves. Variable in appearance; generally told from other piculets by lack of barring or scalloping on belly, although many individuals have some barring on breast and irregular black spotting on flanks, whereas some are almost entirely unmarked below. Forages at middle and canopy levels, alone or with mixed-species flocks. Climbs along branches and vines, boring into decaying wood for insect prey.

A mostly green parrot restricted to Buru that has rackets extending beyond its square-shaped tail. Also note the silvery-gray bill, purple rear crown in males, and yellow base of undertail. Juveniles lack rackets. Pairs and small groups inhabit montane forest, sometimes roaming to cultivated areas. The only parrot on the island with tail rackets. When rackets cannot be seen, the green head, silvery bill, and yellow vent separate it from all other local parrots. Gives loud screeches and repeated ear-splitting “weep” notes.

Adult male is strikingly beautiful, with royal blue upperparts, white belly, and black face, throat, and breast; immature male has the adult’s blue wings but is brown otherwise. Female brown all over, with a smaller-headed profile than other brown flycatchers in range; young male very similar. Adult male very similar to the related Zappey's Flycatcher (no overlap in breeding range, but overlaps during migration), which lacks the black breast patch. Song is a short, sad-sounding series of whistles. Breeds in wooded lowland and submontane areas; winters in similar habitat, as well as more open areas.