Madagascar Munia

A medium-sized dove of forest from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains. Dark brown above, with a brown head, purplish iridescence on the back of the neck and upper back, grayish underparts, pale buff under the base of the tail, and a pale gray tail tip. Similar to White-eared and Amethyst Brown-Doves, but Mindanao lacks the black-and-white stripe below the eye. Sings an accelerating series of identically pitched notes, “wup-pup-pup-pu-pu-pu-pu,” reminiscent of a ping-pong ball falling on a table.

Small leaf-green barbet, endemic to Java and Bali. Note bright sky-blue patches on face, shoulders, and undertail, as well as a bright yellow patch below each eye. Inhabits lowland and foothill forests, as well as forest edge. Like other barbets, can be difficult to see: listen for its song, an insect-like series of notes, given in groups of four. Also gives a high “whew’ew” and sharp pips.

A nocturnal inhabitant of open arid woodlands and thornscrub. Perches on ground from which it makes floppy and erratic flight upon its long wings in pursuit of insects. During the day it nestles in shaded leaf litter, wherein its cryptic coloration hides it well. Both the Hispaniolan Nightjar and Chuck-wills-widow are considerably larger, darker, and lack the Least Pauraque’s white terminal tail band. Calls include a low scratchy “wuck-wuck-wuck-wuck,” a low-pitched rising and trilled “tooooooeeeeeee,” and a similarly low-pitched trilled “oo-weee-oo,” with emphasis on middle syllable. The calls of the Hispaniolan Nightjar is a lower pitched “toooooeeeeeo.”