Sumba Boobook

Ninox rudolfi

A brown owl with a rounded head, dark eyes, brown upperparts and crown with extensive white markings, a prominent white throat, and thick brown bands on the underparts. Occupies forest, forest edge, and mangroves in the lowlands and foothills. Encountered as pairs, singles, or small groups. Restricted to Sumba Island. Separated from Least Boobook by dark eyes, extensive white spotting on crown, and barred underparts. Song a persistent “kok-kok-kok…”.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Ninox rudolfi
Authority
Meyer, AB, 1882
Order
Strigiformes
Family
Strigidae
Genus
Ninox

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Magnificent Frigatebird

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

Massive seabird of warm tropical oceans and coastlines. Overall black with extremely long, deeply forked tail and angular wings. Male completely black with inflatable red pouch on throat (not seen away from breeding colonies) and bluish eyering. In good light, black coloration can show purplish sheen. Adult female has white chest and golden bar on shoulder. Young birds have white head and breast. Often soars for long periods and flies with slow wingbeats. Steals food from other seabirds. Surprisingly acrobatic during aerial chases despite its large size. Limited range overlap with Great Frigatebird (mainly offshore western Mexico and in the Galapagos); identification is complicated by age and sex variation. Adult males are extremely similar; females and immatures best identified by exact pattern of white on head and breast, bill color, and eyering color.

White-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

The largest nuthatch in North America, with distinctive white face, black cap, and blue-gray upperparts. Also note rusty lower belly and undertail coverts. Females have a slightly paler crown than males. Fairly common and widespread, usually in mature woodlands with large trees. Creeps along tree trunks and branches, often upside-down. Sometimes joins mixed flocks with other songbirds. Visits feeders. Listen for insistent yammering calls. Some subtle variation across range, mainly in the darkness of the sides and back, width of the black crown, and vocalizations.

Green-backed Tit

Green-backed Tit

Parus monticolus

Colorful small songbird of foothill and montane forests (up to 2800 m). Similar to Japanese Tit in appearance but with a bright yellow belly, greenish back, and two narrow white wingbars rather than one broad one. Forages at middle and upper levels in forests, often in pairs or as part of mixed-species flocks. Song a series of 3-4 whistles. Calls infrequently, a gruff “deedeedee.”

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