Maroon Pigeon

Chunky brown songbird with a weak crest, typically found on the ground in open fields and meadows. Darker above than below, with fine black streaking on the chest and light chestnut ear coverts with dark border. Very similar to Eurasian Skylark, with which it shares much of its range, but Oriental has buffy, not white, outer tail edges and trailing edge of wing. Breeding males “skylark,” singing a series of variable notes while hovering high above the territory.

Large, dark hummingbird found in coastal regions and along large rivers. Use caution eliminating the more widespread Black-throated Mango, which often occurs in the same habitats; female-plumaged birds in particular may not be safely separable. Found in mangroves, abandoned plantations, swampy forests, and urban areas, often at higher levels in flowering trees, where it feeds on nectar and hawks for tiny flying insects. In proper light, green throat of male is diagnostic. Tail color is useful if bird can be studied at length; Green-throated’s tail is mostly purple, with brownish central tail feathers (tail of Black-throated is more chestnut, but subject to variation depending on light).

Small songbird with bright yellowish upperparts and white “goggles.” Most subspecies have gray underparts; subspecies “unicus” of Sumbawa and Flores has a yellow belly. Compare with other white-eyes in various parts of their range; note present species combination of dark iris and yellow back. Inhabits a wide range of different wooded habitats across its range, including coastal scrub, mangroves, inland forests, and forest edge. Forages actively in small to medium-sized flocks, sometimes mixing with other species. Can be quite common on small islands. Twittering song is bright but unremarkable. Most frequently given call is a somewhat variable high-pitched, descending “djee.”