White-crowned Starling

A distinctive green-and-yellow species, slightly larger than a becard, with scaled sides and breast, a long hooked bill, and large eyes. Males have a black cap with olive-green cheeks and back and heavily scaled underparts. Females are slightly duller with a less solid black cap. Endemic to southeast Brazil, where it is local, rare, and infrequently seen. Found in humid forests where it can be seen foraging from the understory all the way to the subcanopy. The song is a very thin, high-pitched, slurred “psieeeehh,” rising sharply at the end, and repeated regularly.

A classic small greenish-yellow white-eye species with bold white eye-rings. Common in more humid habitats throughout New Caledonia; mostly replaced by Silvereye in drier and more disturbed areas, though the two can be found together. Green-backed is plainer overall than Silverye, without any contrasting plumage apart from the eyering. Has a typical white-eye vocal repertoire, with a high-pitched wheezy warbling song and high-pitched piercing quavering call notes.

A common, fairly large owl of tropical lowlands and foothills. Found in forests, woodlands, plantations, gardens, and towns. Roosts during the day at all levels in dense cover of taller trees, but at night it often hunts from low perches such as fence posts and road signs. Note the rounded head, brown eyes framed with whitish crescents on either side of the bill, and overall brown plumage that is streaked below. Varied gruff hoots can suggest a dog barking.