Babar Whistler

Medium to large honeyeater of inland Australia. Its heavily streaked plumage, large pale cinnamon throat patch and upper-chest are notable. Also note the dark tip to an otherwise pale pinkish bill. A fairly common species across the drier inland parts of Australia including parks and gardens in towns. Its loud and smooth calls are a characteristic sound over much of inland Australia.

Extremely rare, large, elongated brown warbler with a long slender bill. Fairly similar in appearance to West Himalayan, Chinese, Baikal, and Spotted Bush Warblers, but breeding ranges do not overlap. Like other bush warblers, typically very skulking and furtive, preferring to run instead of fly when threatened. Emerges onto small bushes to sing, producing a dull clicking that would underwhelm a grasshopper. Breeds in weedy and bushy slopes in open alpine and subalpine areas; wintering habitat poorly understood but presumed to be similar habitat at lower altitudes. Very few sightings in recent years.

A dark, thickset brown finch. Males throughout most of the species’ range have black faces and throats, and pink-suffused wings and flanks; the Yakutian subspecies is deeper brown on the wings and has no trace of pink. Females have no pink and are paler on the face and throat than males. Breeds above the treeline in barren rocky areas, but descends into lowlands and foothills during the winter. Often forages in open areas such as beaches and fields.