Thamnornis

A recently described species endemic to the declining montane forests of Taliabu. Dark, sparrow-sized warbler with a scruffy-looking, graduated tail. Dark above, with a pale eyebrow and throat; very similar in appearance to Seram, Sulawesi, and Buru Bush Warblers, all formerly grouped under “Chestnut-backed Bush Warbler.” Secretive and skulky, moving about stealthily in dense vegetation on or near the ground. Darker above and dingier below than migrant grasshopper warblers such as Gray’s and Middendorff’s, and with a prominent white throat. Song is a series of extremely high, thin notes: “tzi’eeee, tzi’eeee, tzi’eeee.”

A small black-and-white monarch. Mostly black above with a black head, back, and chest. Note the distinctive white cheek spot and large white wing patch. Note the significant amount of white on undertail. Endemic to Kolombangara, New Georgia, Vangunu, Rendova, and Tetepare, in the southwestern Solomon Islands. Prefers primary forest, but tolerates secondary growth. Occurs up to about 600 meters of elevation. Voice commonly consists of long pulsing whistles or harsh chattering.

A small, common bird of lowland and foothill forest. Fairly slender with a black bill. Male plumage varies geographically but all have black head, back, tail and a white side tuft. Underparts are gray or black, and wing is olive or black. Female is mainly olive with a slightly paler underparts. Similar to Obscure and Mid-Mountain Berrypeckers, but Black has a shorter tail than Mid-Mountain and lacks the orange bill of Obscure. Voice, a repeated, scratchy “witoo-chii!” ending on a high note.