Black-cowled Saltator

A very slender gray-brown swift with a long, deeply forked tail that is often held closed, making it look needle-like and pointed. The erratic flight pattern, with frequent direction changes and rapid wingbeats on long, scythe-shaped wings, is distinctive. Less gregarious than other swifts; usually found in pairs or small flocks, and association with other swallows and swifts is usually only fleeting. Forages over a wide variety of habitats with palms, including savanna, coastal scrub, towns, villages, cultivated areas, forest edge, and clearings, from sea level up to 1800 meters of elevation, preferring lowlands. Nests and roosts in palms and uses its tiny legs with hook-like claws to cling to the undersides of fronds. Gives a high-pitched, metallic “tre-tit-tit-tit-tit-tit-tit-tit” call, solitarily or in unison with others. Separated from other swifts by its longer and thinner tail.

A medium-sized, long-legged bird of lowland forest undergrowth on Manus in the Admiralty Islands. Mainly jet black with a red belly, extending to the center of the chest, a blue wing patch extending down from the shoulder and some green on the flight feathers. Unmistakable. Feeds on the ground, but usually sings from up in the trees. Song, a 2-note “wow-wow!” repeated at intervals.

A small, inconspicuous bird, much more often heard than seen. Most easily recognized by its striking pale orange eyes; also note gray face and longish bill with pale mandible. Yellow crown patch, though large, is difficult to see in the field. One of the characteristic bird species of white sand forests, occurring in both scrubby and taller forest types. Feeds on fruit and may be seen at fruiting trees and shrubs, though it tends not to be as numerous as other manakins. Best detected by its incessant call: a nasal barking, rather similar to call of Dusky-chested Flycatcher. Display song of male is a bizarre series of twangs, unlike any other bird species in range. Distinguished from Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin by paler, oranger eye and by yellower belly.