Piura Chat-Tyrant

A typical black, white, and dark gray batis. Note the chest band, which is black in males and chestnut in females. The cap is dark gray, and there is a long, thin white eyebrow. Found in woodland, scrub, mangroves, and savanna ranging from moist to dry. Often in pairs. Similar to Pale Batis, but darker overall. The male is similar to male Chinspot Batis, but has a narrower black chest band and a darker cap. The distinctive song consists of high, thin upslurred whistles in short or long series, on the same pitch or sometimes alternating pitches.

A rather small, pale grayish-brown starling, paler on Vanikoro, with a smudgy black patch in front of the eye and distinctive rusty wings. Found in forest and secondary growth, especially montane forest. Similar to Polynesian Starling, but paler above, with a dark eye and more uniform wings. Common call is a melodious “zee-twee.”

A medium-sized bird of mid-montane forest understory. Sooty gray color, paler on the belly, darker on the face and wing. Note the pale eye and white throat contrasting with the dark face. Birds on the Huon Peninsular have a gray throat. Perches on low branches, flicking tail and scanning the ground for insect prey. Smoky and Blue-gray Robins have limited altitudinal overlap, but White-eyed is usually found at lower elevations, has a white eye and usually a white throat. Voice, a loud, upslurred whistle “wit!”. Also, a rising series of notes, first whistled then becoming raspier and accelerating.