Schwarzkinn-Dickkopf Pachycephala mentalis

A chunky, thick-billed songbird from the Moluccas. Unmistakable male shows a black head, a yellow collar, a conspicuous white throat, a black chest line, and vibrant yellow underparts. Female is subdued, with a grayish head, a paler throat, and yellow-washed underparts. Juveniles resemble female, but are washed with rufous. Pairs and singles can be found in forest, edge, scrub, and mangroves from lowlands to hills, but are typically most abundant at higher elevations. Female’s yellow wash on the underside separates her from Obi and Drab Whistlers, and olive-toned upperside further differentiates her from Drab Whistler. Calls include a soft “chow-chow-chow,” sometimes terminating in a whipping “chee-wee-CHOW!”