Papuan Scrubwren

Noisy, conspicuous, and often a common scavenger in habitats ranging from towns and cities to open forest, farmland, and beaches; ecological counterpart to crows. Often in groups, locally of tens or even hundreds, feeding on the ground or tumbling and sailing with agile flight; often chases and mobs larger raptors. Plumage brownish overall, often with gingery tones, and with variable paler dappling above and fine barring below. Bold creamy white wing panels and tail base striking in flight.

Endemic to the island of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. Medium-sized finch with a strong and heavy bill, broken white eyering, and bold white wing-bars. Male is a striking dark blue-gray while female is brown-gray. Largely restricted to montane pine forests. Song is a repetitive, accelerating series; call is a quiet, rising “weep.”

A large, entirely gray-brown honeyeater with a patch of dark facial skin and a long, slightly decurved, sharply pointed bill. Juveniles show a yellowish-green wash to wings and underparts. Singles and pairs inhabit forest, forest edge, and open wooded country. Larger than Buru Oriole, with dark facial area composed of bare skin, and longer, more pointed bill. A noisy bird, giving harsh, kingfisher-like “skidup” alarm notes, a repetitive “chuwee-chow,” and “wee-o-wer” calls.