Bristle-crowned Starling

A tiny, short-tailed green parrot with a narrow red throat patch and a vivid red rump. Males show a red forecrown and pale eye. Females lack the red forehead, have a dark eye, and display a smaller throat patch. Juveniles show a yellow throat and shoulder. Found in canopy of dense forest, forest edge, and plantations within the lowlands, usually in pairs or singly. Unmistakable, as it is the only tiny green short-tailed parrot in its limited range in the north Moluccas. Calls include “tzit-tzer-tzer” and high pitched “tzeet” notes.

This sharply attired black-and-white starling has a pointed yellowish bill with an orange base. Mainly black upperparts with white belly and white rump noticeable in flight. Note the bare, deep orange patch around its eye that contrasts with its white cheek. Easternmost birds have a white, streaked forehead. Seen in loose flocks close to human habitation feeding on human refuse. Garbage dumps, damp grazing lands, and well-watered parks are its favoured haunts. Noisy with a variety of calls that includes mimicked sounds of other birds.

Cryptic, seldom-seen nightbird of lowland and foothill forests. Unlike other small frogmouths, sexes are alike. Light morph is bright rufous with scattered white dots on the wings and mottled-white underparts. Dark morph is brown but with the same general patterning. Compare with Sunda Frogmouth: male Sunda is much more heavily marked with white above and has patchier markings on the underparts, while female Sunda has a prominent white band across the chest. Sumatran and Bornean Frogmouths inhabit higher elevations. Song is a loud “weeow-wah.” Calls include “weeow” and a rapid series of “wuk” notes that resembles a thrush’s alarm call.