Black-crested Titmouse

A stocky, short-tailed forest pigeon. Shows a diagnostic head pattern, with yellow forehead, green upper nape, and burgundy collar. Back, wings, and tail dark brown, with gray outer tail feathers. Underside grayish, with soft yellow wash on the breast. Juvenile browner, with rusty edges to feathers. Singles or pairs forage on the floor inside montane forest. Typically runs away rather than flying. Restricted to Sulawesi island, where no other similar species occur. Gives a deep hooting call, sometimes with a barely audible introductory note: “whooo-whooo” or “w-whooo-w-whooo.”

This eastern counterpart of the Black-throated Thrush also breeds in montane areas and winters in lower-elevation areas on average. Males gray above and white below, with a brick-red throat and supercilium. Female paler, with more streaking on the breast and light suffusion of red on the face. Streaky and drab young birds can be difficult to distinguish from Black-throated; chestnut outer tail feathers and orange suffusion to the throat area indicate Red-throated. In areas of overlap, beware hybrids that may show features of both species. Pleasant song is simpler than that of Black-throated, and is composed of fluty whistles and trills. Calls include typical “chekchekchek” and high, thin “tseee.”

Small, active songbird with long, pale-tipped tail and warm brownish-orange on the forehead, rump, and tail base. Grayish brown above and pale below overall, with a white throat and black-speckled breast. Frequently cocks and fans tail. Endemic to the D’Entrecasteaux and Louisiade Arcipelagos, off southeastern New Guinea, where inhabits wooded areas, particularly on small offshore islets. Listen for high-pitched, tinkling song. Formerly grouped with other closely related species under “Rufous Fantail.”