Sao Tome Grosbeak

A drab brown sparrow-sized songbird with a downcurved bill. Note the pale base to the bill, the thin pale line between bill and eye, the pale skin behind the eye, and the prominent dark streaks on the breast. Inhabits montane forest and higher heathland, where it sometimes joins mixed-species flocks. Larger than Seram Myzomela, and further differentiated by pale base to bill, pale facial line, bare facial skin, and bold streaking below. Gives a strident, melodious “twit-twoo” song and harsh “shhurr” and liquid “wip” notes.

Robust, big-headed, and rather short-tailed parrot endemic to Papua and Cape York (Australia) and introduced to Solomon Islands, where it inhabits lowland and foothill forests. Male bright green with red underwings and orange bill, female bright red with violet belly and dark bill. Usually seen flying above forests at first light, squawking loudly. Calls include an ear-shattering, high-pitched squawk, as well as a lower, rasping caw. Formerly grouped with other closely related species under “Eclectus Parrot.”

Fairly small fork-tailed hummingbird of lowlands. Males have an iridescent green head and breast and a violet belly, but in poor light appears evenly dark overall. Females are green above, light gray below. Note the slightly drooping bill on both sexes. One of the most common hummingbirds in lowland Amazonia; found in a variety of open forested habitats from young rainforest and forest edges to treefall gaps and gardens.