Brown Barbet

A very small gregarious species of open habitats including agricultural areas and the edges of marshes; often found in flocks of tens to hundreds. Note the black face and crown, brown wings, and long reddish orange uppertail coverts (concealing black tail) of breeding male. Nonbreeding males and females distinguished from similar Black-winged Bishop by smaller size and bill and told from Yellow-crowned Bishop by buffier coloration and more limited streaking on chest. Song is a rapid jumble of squeaky, twittering, and churring notes. Its calls include a sharp “tsit” and “tzit.”

A very small sunbird with a short, slightly curved bill. Males are iridescent leaf green above with a red-and-black chest band, yellow throat, and buffy gray belly. Females are drab and warbler-like with an inconspicuous pale eyebrow. Found in rainforest, farmbush, and plantations, mostly in the canopy. Males are similar to Collared Sunbird, but can be separated by the yellow rather than green chin, and the red chest band. Females can be confused with Green Hylia, which is smaller with much less conspicuous pale markings on the face.

Small, compact dark owl with small ear tufts. Most birds have dark brown upperparts and medium-brown underparts, but there is a rare rufous morph with rich rufous underparts and head. Fairly common in remnant rainforest, secondary forest, gardens, and plantations on the island of Mayotte, in the Comoros. The remarkable vocalization is a series of several low-pitched hollow hoots. Sometimes active and vocal during the day, especially the early morning and late afternoon. Easily identified, as the only other owl on Mayotte is the much larger Barn Owl.