White-tufted Honeyeater

Medium-sized spiderhunter with an olive back and streaked gray underparts. Inhabits lowland and submontane forests and forest edges, where it feeds primarily on nectar in the understory; favors blossoms of banana and ginger. Very similar in appearance to Gray-breasted Spiderhunter; range overlap is poorly understood but appears to be minimal. Look for Bornean’s more intensely streaked underparts and slightly larger size. Long-billed Spiderhunter can show some streaking on the breast but is much larger and longer-billed, with yellowish underparts. Sometimes noisy, giving loud raspy nasal calls.

A chunky bird with a thick bill. Quite plain: brownish on the back, grayish on the head, and paler below, with indistinct breast streaking. Color of the underparts varies geographically from dull rufous to whitish-buff. Found at low and middle elevations in humid forest, including secondary forest. Rich, melodious, variable song consists of several penetrating whistles, generally in an up-and-down pattern. Calls include “chek” notes. Somewhat similar to Rusty Pitohui, but smaller, with a dark rather than pale eye. Also similar to Gray Shrikethrush, but smaller, shorter-tailed, and browner, with a darker face. Could be confused with female Black Shrikethrush, but always smaller and paler.

Tiny and active sunbird of forest edges, parks, and gardens. Endemic to the Philippines (excluding Palawan). Both sexes have a plain olive back, a yellow belly, and white tail edges that are flared out in flight. The male flashes an iridescent blue throat while the female has a yellow throat and eyebrow. Gives a fast, jumbled series of rising whistles and squeaks. Frequently-heard call, a rising “dweet”, is a familiar sound even in cities. Formerly grouped with other, closely related species under “Olive-backed Sunbird.”