Slender-billed Babbler

Huge swift with powerful, falcon-like flight. Overall coloration is gray with a paler throat and mottling on the belly, but often looks blackish when seen in flight overhead. A darker, blackish population nests in Luanda, Angola, and wanders widely. Found over a wide variety of habitats, though often in the vicinity of rock outcroppings. Near breeding colonies, gives an exuberant trilled call. Similar in size and shape to Alpine Swift, but separated by the dark rather than white belly. Separated from all other swifts by large size.

Distinctive small hummingbird. Male has mostly black body and bright white outer tail feathers, a combination unlike any other hummingbird species. Female is mostly whitish below instead of black, and resembles female Stripe-tailed Hummingbird; look for extensive white in her tail and small rufous wing patch. Limited range, found in montane forests and edges. Visits feeders and gardens.

Small, distinctive boobook with extensive chestnut-brown barring. Favors surviving primary rainforest, but can sometimes be found in secondary growth; can be found on roadsides through suitable habitat when hunting. The only resident owl on the island; the migratory Northern Boobook is a winter visitor to the island, and is significantly larger and much darker overall, with an all-brown head and brown-striped white underparts. Present species gives an odd, distorted-sounding “qwr-qwerk.” Begging birds give a shrill trill. Unfortunately, like many other Christmas Island species, has suffered declines due to the introduced yellow crazy ant, which has caused the owl to disappear from parts of its range.