Buff-throated Saltator

Well-named tanager, mostly emerald-green with trapezoidal black cheek patch, back streaking and wing markings. Small and active, usually found in pairs following mixed feeding flocks in foothill forests and edges. Feeds on fruit. Sexes alike.

Males are ghostly gray above with black wingtip wedges. Females are more difficult to separate from other harriers; pay attention to the underwings with their barred primaries and dark secondaries. Juveniles are rufous and similar to Montagu’s, but appear dark rather than pale faced. In flight, a bit bulkier than Montagu’s but much more buoyant than Hen Harrier. Found in steppes, wet grassland, agricultural areas and other open spaces. Sometimes forms flocks outside of the breeding season, occasionally mixing with other harrier species.

A small honeyeater with a downcurved bill. Males blackish with a vivid red hood and rump and a paler belly. Females are brown with a paler belly and a noticeable red wash to the throat, forehead, and cheeks. Found singly or in pairs in lowland woodland, forest edge, and gardens, favoring the upper parts of trees. Unmistakable, as there are no other myzomelas in its limited range on Rote island. Vocalizations include a fast-paced sequence of staccato, metallic notes: “zip-zip-zip-zip-zip-zip…”.