Sula Scops-Owl

Small, shy, and poorly understood, this reed warbler breeds in the remote marshlands of northeastern China and Russia and winters in drier, grassier habitats in Southeast Asia. Warm brown overall with a clean-cut whitish brow and throat; brow extends well behind the eye, unlike in Blunt-winged Warbler. Very similar to extralimital Paddyfield Warbler, but Paddyfield shows dark-tipped lower mandible, duller brown tones overall, and a dirtier brow stripe with a distinctive pinch just before the eye, after which it fades out; Manchurian’s brow broadens behind the eye instead. Oriental Reed Warbler much larger, with a weaker head pattern. Rambling jumbled song consists of high-pitched warbling notes and sharp clicks and rattles; more pleasant-sounding than that of Oriental Reed Warbler.

A medium-sized, long-winged, long-tailed tern of warm tropical seas. Adults appear snow-white except for a thin black nape stripe that extends from the eye (often not very visible from a distance), black outer edge to outermost primary, and thin, long black bill. Hovers frequently while foraging and dips down daintily to pick prey from just below the water's surface. Flies quickly and lightly, often associating with Bridled, Roseate, and Crested terns. Breeds colonially on rocky oceanic islands and headlands. Call a grating “grrri.”

Unique social passerine with a disproportionately long tail and very short and rounded wings. Overall pallid sandy-brown. Often seen hopping on the ground with its tail cocked. Favors vegetated desert wadis and plains in the Middle East; also found near human habitation. Eats arthropods, plants, and berries. Moves around in noisy social groups; the subject of intensive studies for decades. Gives a high-pitched “tsee tsee tsee.”