Malia

Unusual and distinctive paradise-flycatcher. Adult males are completely glossy blue-black with extremely long tail streamers. Female has a black head, rufous upperparts, and white underparts, and lacks tail streamers. Both sexes have a blue ring of bare skin around the eye. Endemic to the Seychelles, where it is found mainly on the islands of La Digue and Denis. Habitat is thick indigenous woodland. A restless, active bird of middle levels of the forest. Calls include a tearing “shreeet” and an agitated twittering. The song is a long, musical, slightly descending series of “twee” notes. 

Large antbird found in lowland and foothill rainforest in the western Amazon basin. Male is black with very fine white barring all over. Female is brown with dense black barring on body; her tail is black with white bars. Both sexes have a crest which is often held flat. Almost identical in plumage to Undulated Antshrike, though female Fulvous is more heavily marked; the two are best separated by range and voice. Also similar to both Fasciated and Barred Antshrikes, but Fulvous is larger and darker; male has much finer white barring, and female has brown underparts with wavy black bars. Pairs skulk inside dense forest understory where they are very hard to see, and usually first detected by voice. Song is a rising series of ten or so loud, emphatic whistles. Also gives a short “falling bomb” squeal.

Warm brown above and pale below; strong dark eyestripe contrasts with white eyebrow. Smallish reed warbler with long and strongly rounded tail, short bill with dark tip, and short primary projection. Difficult to separate visually from other small Acrocephalus warblers, especially Blunt-winged Warbler; note Paddyfield’s more prominent pale eyebrow which strengthens behind the eye, as well as longer-winged appearance. Also compare with Iduna warblers. Breeds in extensive reed beds; in nonbreeding season found in marshes, but also more scrubby areas. Distinctive, melodious song.