Blue-winged Minla

A powerfully built terrestrial bird of remote northern Chinese and Siberian taiga. Male massive, with glossy black head and chest, white-spotted brown wings, and fiery red stripe above the eye. Female smaller, with brown head and neck and black-striped body. Male displays with neck stretched upward and broad black tail tilted up and fanned. Males engage in fierce battles on leks during courtship season.

Known to the Chamorro as the Åga, Mariana Crow is a small, entirely black crow with a dark blue gloss on the head and wings when seen well. Bases of body feathers are white, giving a ragged appearance. It is now endemic to Rota in the Mariana Islands. Prefers native limestone forest, but sometimes found in secondary and other forest types as well. Absent from open lands. Most often seen engaging in short flights through the midstory or foraging in leaf litter on the forest floor, but will acrobatically forage at all levels of the forest, sometimes clinging to vines and occasionally even dangling upside down. No truly similar species in range; most likely to be confused with the slimmer Black Drongo or smaller Micronesian Starling. Most commonly heard vocalization is their contact call, a high pitched "caww"; also makes a wide variety of other sounds to communicate with each other, including a nasal and drawn out "aaa" and soft gurgles.

A locally abundant swallow often seen around bridges, buildings, and culverts, where it constructs its mud nests. Distinctive cream-colored underparts contrast with its nearly uniform glossy blue upperparts. In flight, it has a noticeable pale rump and a short tail with white “windows” in the tail feathers. Rather unique within its range. Gives raspy calls in flight.