Australian Spectacled Monarch

A tiny, short-tailed, streaky cisticola. Note the rufous rump and variably rufous flanks. Breeding male has an unstreaked rufous crown. Female and non-breeding male have a paler brown crown with dark streaks. Found locally in short grassland, especially in seasonally flooded areas. Inconspicuous for most of the year. Usually seen when doing a flight display over its breeding habitat. Very similar to several other cisticolas, though usually distinguished by range. Zitting Cisticola overlaps widely in range, but Black-backed is separated by voice, richer overall coloration, and shorter tail. The song consists of a series of raspy “chree” notes, sometimes given along with wing snaps. Also gives explosive scolding notes and high-pitched whines. 

Small tan flycatcher of river beaches; terrestrial, or perches on low shrubs. Tan above, lighter whitish below, with a black tail with white outer tail feathers. Overlaps with the similar and often more common Drab Water Tyrant. Compared to that species, Little Ground-Tyrant has lighter underparts, no facial pattern (unlike the black eye line and pale eyebrow of Drab Water Tyrant) and white outer tail feathers contrasting with black inner tail feathers (as opposed to uniformly brown). They often flush and move in low flight along river banks, exposing their diagnostic tail patterns. Prefers wide, open beaches and mudflats along rivers to steep river banks. Known to wander when not breeding, when it can be found in a variety of open habitats.

A dull-colored, whistler-like songbird confined to Sulawesi. Mostly dull green with red eyes, a grayish underside, yellowish flanks, and a rusty base to the undertail. Females show throat streaking that is absent in males; the streaks are white in the southwest and yellowish in the north. Juveniles have an olive-brown head and buff-striped olive underparts. Singles and pairs occupy the subcanopy of montane forest. Separated from female Maroon-backed Whistler by yellow flanks, red eye, slim pointed bill, and tendency to sit high in the trees. Calls include a high-pitched thrush-like “tsip” and a nasal “jheeze.” Song comprises very high-pitched, twittering whistles.