Sula Cicadabird

A very small nondescript sunbird with a short orange-based bill that curves uniformly along its length; easily mistaken for females of other sunbirds. The only features on the olive upperparts are indistinct paler eyebrows and lines running under the eyes, and yellow edging to the wings. Although often hidden, the male has yellow or whitish (not red) tufts at the shoulders. Singles are local and inconspicuous at the edges of lowland and riverine forest, sometimes entering secondary growth; it joins mixed-flocks and is frequently attracted to epiphytes in mossy clumps. Calls a high-pitched “tseeep” and trills. Little Green and Fraser’s sunbirds are similar to Bates’s but brighter, with straighter bills and more distinct yellowish eye-rings; Ursula’s Sunbird has a long decurved bill and grayish face and underparts.

Small hummingbird found in a variety of woodland and brushy habitats. Male distinctive with ruby-red throat and black chin. Female has whitish underparts with almost no buffy tones (perhaps a very light wash on flanks). Readily comes to sugar water feeders and flower gardens. Default summer hummingbird over most of eastern U.S. and Canada. Winters south to Panama. Very difficult to distinguish from Black-chinned Hummingbird, especially females and young males; thankfully limited range overlap. Ruby-throated averages somewhat brighter green above, shorter- and straighter-billed, and has slightly narrower outer wing feathers, but these differences are all extremely subtle.

Small owl lacking ear tufts, with chestnut mantle and pale belly with streaked flanks. Crepuscular and diurnal, occurring singly or in pairs in wet rainforest, or neighboring woods. Chestnut back and streaked flanks of Chestnut-backed Owlet separate it from the similar Jungle Owlet, and Chestnut-backed also prefers the wetter region of the island. Call is a series of barbet like “kurr-kurr-kurr” notes, often followed by harsh “kao-kao” yaps, similar to Jungle Owlet, but slightly lower-pitched.