- 12 - Aphonis opacus Saipan Fairly abundant in dense timber. Can depend on always finding them around cliffs and rock bluffs, however. Occasionally, seen in flight over other areas. Small flocks range far and wide, so that in a given tract of woods, they will be found at some time time during the day. On the great cliffs at the north end of Saipan, they are always present, singing, and flying, and perching in crannies hundreds of feet up. I have seen nests in small potholes in cliffs. Song typical of starling;gurgling and bubbling notes intermingled with whistles. Long duration, sometimes fairly sweet. Calls, a wide variety of whistles, with many conversational variations, but always very loud. A moving flock (usually 5-10 birds) will settle for a time in tops of dead trees. They straggle in their flock movements. Tinian Occurance as at Saipan. Quite common in dense forest Guam This is the most abundant and conspicuous bird on the island. They are everywhere. Always some in flight, every large tree has several. Loud calls and songs heard constantly from dawn to dusk. Drift through the woods in great, unorganized hordes. Adults much more wary than young, hard to approach. Young are very tame. Corvus kubaryi Guam Not abundant, but can be counted on to occur in any sizeable patch of heavy jungle. Calls frequently heard, and birds occasionally seen in flight over open areas. Call like an ordinary crow, and has conversational variations. This bird is amazingly secretive. There can be many foraging silently on the ground in dense jungle and there is no indication of their presence, unless they call. Usually that only happens after they have left your vicinity. Usually 2 or 3 together, but do not forage close to each other. Typical habitat: ground under dense jungle. * food: lizards, grasshoppers, insects, birds & flowers Cleptornis marchei Saipan This is at least one bird that is not universal in habitat. That is, it actually does not occur at Lake Susupe. It inhabits dense small tree growth under the cover of the large forest trees. Also in hillside patches of small trees. Very numerous, especially in type of growth on dry rocky slopes. Not a flocking species, but there are always 3 or 4 in the same area, sometimes more. They chase each other, uttering strident wren-like notes. Generally in lower trees. On 21 Jan 45, saw young staying in one place high in tree and giving a food-call - a mellow whistle - plaintive. No song or mating calls noted. In dark places, eye large, legs long and strong like a hermit thrush. But is never on the ground - forages through the smaller twigs. Eats fruit. Rapid flight when chase each other through the branches. I have seen congregation s of ten or a dozen birds, all clamoring loudly, and have never been able to figure out the meaning. * warning call like Vanid Thr.