Sooty Owl

Tiny brown bird with a long tail and bill. Note streaked back and pale underparts. In flight, the white tail tips can be conspicuous. Found in all open habitats, including grassland, marsh, rice paddies, and moist scrub. Incessantly gives a dry “zip” call, often in a hovering flight display. Similar to larger Madagascar Lark, but has a longer tail and bill, and is usually seen perched up on grass or low bushes rather than walking on the ground. All other similar species have a different bill shape. 

Unobtrusive, rather chunky bird of forest canopy in tropical forest of humid lowlands. Most often seen as a single male perched on exposed high branches, less often at fruiting trees where can be quite low. Male is unmistakable: brilliant electric blue (glowing even at long range) with plum-colored throat and belly patch. Female very different: pale grayish overall with white scalloping above and dusky dappling below. Basically silent.

A cryptically-colored ground-dweller without the bright colors and bold head patterns boasted by many of its relatives. Mottled brown overall with a grayish-white face and a speckled orange throat. Forages in dense undergrowth like other partridges, usually in mature foothill and lowland forest. Listen for its song, a series of ascending breathy whistles which culminate in an echoing series of ringing notes. As with many other forest gamebirds, very difficult to see in general; most likely encountered at staked-out blinds, or, if one is lucky, walking quietly along roadsides and clearings at dusk and dawn.