Eungella Honeyeater

A small black-and-white monarch. White below except for black throat and breast. Black above with a large white wing patch and a white cheek. Endemic to Malaita, in the Solomon Islands. Mostly found in primary forest, often in bamboo thickets. Most common calls include high-pitched whistles and harsh scolding notes. Formerly grouped with Solomons Monarch under the technically accurate but (given the prevalence of black-and-white monarchs) rather pointless name of “Black-and-white Monarch.”

The male is a striking black-and-gray cicadabird; pitch black below and on the face, leaving a light gray cap and upperside. The tail is also black. The female is mostly powder-gray with diagnostic uniformly dark slate flight feathers and tail. Found in forest at low and moderate elevations on the Solomon Islands. Male is similar to Central Melanesian Cicadabird, but distinguished by its paler upperparts and darker underparts. Most common vocalization is a rasping, upslurred “vvr-reeeoo” or a series of these notes. Also gives a bleating call.

A medium-sized woodpecker of forest edge, often seen probing and prying into wood for insects. Shows a solid green back and upper tail, a red crown, dark cheeks, and heavily spotted or streaked underparts. This combination of plumage characteristics is unique within its range, where other green-backed woodpeckers co-occur. Call is a buzzing “z-zeep” or a repeated harsh “zaa zaa.”