Forest Elaenia

Small social songbird, often encountered foraging in upper levels of forest. Mostly olive-green above with a yellow undertail. Belly, chest, and throat gray. Note the smudgy black patch in front of the eye. Found in forest and forest edge from 500 to 2000 meters of elevation, but down to 50 meters of elevation on Makira. Similar to Yellow-throated White-eye, but upperparts less yellow and throat gray. Common calls include a loud mellow “peeeu” and high-pitched “peep-peep” foraging calls.

A tiny and uncommon bird of foothill and lower montane forest on Mindanao. Yellowish to off-white below with a small eyebrow mainly in front of the eye, brown upperparts, and a grayish head. Note the reddish eye and the long white plumes sprouting from the sides, lower back, and rump. Somewhat similar to female Little Pied-Flycatcher, but smaller, with white plumes. Voice includes constant high-pitched “seep” notes and a sibilant chatter similar to a white-eye’s.

A medium-sized iridescent blue-green glossy starling that lacks dark ear-patches and has greenish flanks and belly, giving it a more uniform appearance than the “blue-eared” starlings. Pairs and small groups occupy high-altitude grassland, Karoo, and savanna, including drier habitats than other glossy starlings. The species feeds on the ground and in trees on fruit and insects; often it scavenges from people. It gives a rolling “turrreaau” flight call and harsh “karrr” alarm notes. Similar “blue-eared” starlings differ from Cape Starling by being smaller and having blue-magenta flanks and belly that give them a less uniform appearance.