Tanimbar Monarch

A tiny and uncommon bird of foothill and lower montane forest on Mindanao. Yellowish to off-white below with a small eyebrow mainly in front of the eye, brown upperparts, and a grayish head. Note the reddish eye and the long white plumes sprouting from the sides, lower back, and rump. Somewhat similar to female Little Pied-Flycatcher, but smaller, with white plumes. Voice includes constant high-pitched “seep” notes and a sibilant chatter similar to a white-eye’s.

A nondescript thick-billed, sparrow-sized songbird. Uniform grayish-brown above and paler below, with a white throat and dull pale underparts. Juveniles have pale bills and a faintly streaked breast. Singles, pairs, or family groups can be found in forest, scrub, or mangroves in the lowlands and hills. Confined to the eastern Lesser Sundas. Smaller and notably smaller-billed than female Yellow-throated Whisler, and lacks throat streaking of female Wallacean Whistler. Song consists of loud whistles increasing in volume, such as “pi-pi-pi-pi-CHWEE” or “doo-doo-doo…DEE.” Also gives “swee” notes.

A critically endangered Galápagos finch found only on the island of Floreana. Bill is moderately curved on both upper and lower edges, and slightly longer than it is deep. Male has a black hood, brownish-olive upperparts, and a pale belly. Female is tan with whitish underparts. Both sexes have faint streaking on the breast. Bill is black on breeding male and orange on female and non-breeding male. Large Tree-Finch has larger and more bulbous bill. Small Tree-Finch has slightly smaller bill and body. Identification is much easier when more than one species is present to allow direct comparison. Medium Tree-Finch inhabits forest mainly in the highlands but is occasionally seen closer to the coast, where it may be only a seasonal visitor.