Black-necked Eremomela

A very large honeyeater with a long dagger-like bill. Entirely gray-brown with a whitish collar and pink naked skin around the eye. Juveniles are less olive, showing some yellow feather edging above. Confined to the island of Seram, where it is found in lowlands and foothills in forest, plantations, mangroves, and sparsely wooded areas. Differs from Seram Oriole in showing bare skin around the eye and also in shape, as it is slightly larger and relatively longer-tailed, with a bill that tapers to a finer tip and a crown is often flattened, with a peak on the nape. Gives an explosive loud “k’PROW!” call.

Unique among storm-petrels in having an entirely silvery-gray plumage. Aside from overall plumage color, look for contrasting dark underwings, dark mask around eye, and deeply forked tail. Breeds on offshore islands across the North Pacific, from Japan to California. Fairly common over cool water, often not far from shore. Found singly or in large flocks, often mixed with other storm-petrels.

Tiny, with long wings and a short greenish bill with a small red base. Face and underparts are plain slaty gray on male, and buffy to whitish on female and juvenile. Adults have plain flanks and boldly barred undertail coverts. Juvenile has barred flanks; compare to similar Baillon’s Crake. Breeds in freshwater wetlands with extensive emergent vegetation, and spends the non-breeding season in a wide range of marshy habitats. Often favors deeper-water aquatic plant stands than other rails and crakes, clambering about nimbly amongst the vegetation. Usually retiring and rarely seen, but can be confiding. Males give a long song that starts with a series of “qwek” notes that eventually accelerates and tapers off; females respond with a descending trill with a similar quality.