Clamorous Reed Warbler

An unremarkable drab, brown flycatcher, gray-brown above and pale below. Note the pale base to the bill. Juveniles have spotted upperparts. Found singly or in pairs in understory of lowland forest and edge. Limited to Sumba Island. Differs from Asian Brown Flycatcher in being shorter-winged, with a less distinct eye-ring. Separated from the larger Flores Jungle-Flycatcher and from the more rufescent Sumba Flycatcher by its bicolored bill. Song is a soft complex of disorderly high whistled notes, ending in a weak trill. Call is a thin, high-pitched whistle, “tseeoo.”

Extremely rare, large, elongated brown warbler with a long slender bill. Fairly similar in appearance to West Himalayan, Chinese, Baikal, and Spotted Bush Warblers, but breeding ranges do not overlap. Like other bush warblers, typically very skulking and furtive, preferring to run instead of fly when threatened. Emerges onto small bushes to sing, producing a dull clicking that would underwhelm a grasshopper. Breeds in weedy and bushy slopes in open alpine and subalpine areas; wintering habitat poorly understood but presumed to be similar habitat at lower altitudes. Very few sightings in recent years.

A handsome small finch that appears very dark with a bright white belly patch. Head and chest black, back rich hazelnut brown, tail golden-orange. Undertail very black. Flanks scaled black-and-white. Found in most patches of tall grass up to 1200 meters of elevation. Other munias occur in the same areas, but Bismarck’s bold color patterns make for simple identification. Most common call is a chorus of soft “peep” and “see” notes, but overall relatively quiet.