African Golden-Weaver

Tiny and active sunbird of forest edges, parks, and gardens; the most common urban sunbird throughout most of its expansive distribution; ranges from Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Lesser Sundas. Both sexes have a plain olive back, a yellow belly, and white tail edges that are flared out in flight. The male flashes an iridescent blue throat while the female has a yellow throat and eyebrow. Female Brown-throated Sunbird also has a yellow belly, but it is larger with a thicker bill and lacks the white tail patches of Ornate. Gives a rising “dwee”, a familiar sound even in cities. Formerly grouped with other, closely related species under “Olive-backed Sunbird.”

A large, broad-winged dark raptor. Adults show a short crest, a blackish head with yellow facial skin, a chocolate-brown back, and rust-colored underparts with extensive white speckling. In flight appears blackish with a conspicuous single broad white bar on the rear of the wings and tail. Immatures pale, with dark mask, boldly streaked underparts, and dark chocolate upperside. In flight, note extensive dark markings on underwings. Inhabits forests, edges, rice paddies, and sparsely wooded areas from lowlands to mountains. Confined to Sulawesi and the Banggai and Sula Islands. Speckled rusty underside identifies perched adults, dark mask perched immatures. In flight, distinguished from all other local raptors by white bar on rear wing and tail of adults, and by bold streaking below in immatures. Gives strident “kew” calls, sometimes with inflection: “kew-di-lew.”

Chunky, medium-sized black barbet. There is red on the face, and the bottom part of the wing has white edging. Found locally in woodland, cultivated areas, and gallery forest. Usually in pairs or small groups. The call is an unmusical duet of low, rasping calls. Similar to Black-billed Barbet, but not known to overlap in range, and easily separated by lack of red on the throat or white edges to the top part of the wing.