Little Stint

A large, long-winged petrel that appears mostly dark above and white below. The forehead is white and the underwings have a broad black diagonal bar. The flight is fast with high arcing turns. Nests in the mountains on several of the main Hawaiian Islands. At breeding colonies it is usually active only at night. Regularly observed offshore from boats and can be seen from shore at dusk in some areas. Calls include a long, low “uuuuu-wah-uuu,” and various sharp yaps and barks.

Fairly large, plain cisticola. Note the rufous cap, pale underparts, and two bands across the tip of the tail, one pale and one black. Found in a variety of savanna habitats, including miombo. The distinctive song is a high, rising trill, given from a prominent perch. The call is an agitated, repeated “chit.” As with other cisticolas, habitat and vocalizations are important to identification. Fairly similar to Whistling Cisticola, but has a rufous cap.

The only leafbird within its range with an orange belly. Male is unmistakable with a blue-and-black face pattern, a solid orange belly, and green-and-blue wings. Female is green all over with blue cheeks and less extensive orange on the belly. The female can be confused with female Blue-winged Leafbird, but Orange-bellied has an orange belly and more blue on the face than Blue-winged Leafbird. Often moves about quietly in the upper layers of hilly and montane forests, gleaning insects from branches and foraging at fruiting and flowering trees. Frequently incorporates the songs and calls of other species into its vocalizations.