Slaty Vireo

A small brown songbird with a long tail, often held cocked or fanned. Upperparts largely rufous except for a grayer head with a pale brow. Shows a white throat and uniform buff underparts. Inhabits lowland forest and sometimes mangroves. Confined to the Tanimbar Islands. Told from Arafura Fantail by the lack of a white tip to the tail and the absence of a black breast patch. Gives a distinctive, repetitive, see-sawing two-note song phrase, “wee-oo-wee-oo-wee-oo,” rising on the first note, falling on the second. Also gives nasal jittering calls.

A large bird of lowland and montane forest on the Sulu Islands, although probably only remaining on Tawi-Tawi. Feeds particularly on fig trees. One of the rarest birds in the world. Entirely black except for a white tail. Has a long, thick black bill, a black casque, and black bare skin around the eye. Male has pale eyes and female has brown eyes and a smaller casque. Unmistakable. The only hornbill in its range. Voice is a nasal cackling.

A hefty brownish member of the swallow family. Darker on the back and paler below. Note the slightly forked tail with white spots. Nests in canyons, escarpments, and gorges, as well as towns and villages; frequently in arid areas. Often seen in pairs or small groups; in winter congregates in larger flocks. Not very vocal, but sometimes gives a short, dry trill. At a distance, can be confused with “Riparia” martins; look for this species’ bright white tail patches. Separation from Red-throated Crag-Martin may be tricky, but there is little or no overlap in range.