Sulawesi Heleia

Unique medium-sized owl of the boreal forest. Remarkably long-tailed for an owl; reminiscent of a small hawk in flight with quick, snappy wingbeats. Pale eyes give it an angry look. Brownish overall with white spotting above, barred underparts, and spotted crown. Feeds on small rodents by sight and sound. Often seen perched on the very top of a spruce tree or snag, surveying the surrounding landscape for prey. When rodent populations crash, large numbers of Northern Hawk Owls can move south of their normal range.

Tiny, tailless, long-legged ball of a bird. Dark morph is brown all over with black spots on the breast; pale morph’s breast is marked with black-and-white scaling. Very similar in appearance to Pygmy and Scaly-breasted Cupwings; note unspotted wings, faint black moustache stripe, and longer-billed profile. Not exceptionally shy, but difficult to see in the dense undergrowth; listen for its song, a steadily descending phrase of high thin notes.  

Attractive sparrow found along the western edge of the Andes in northwestern Argentina, barely reaching over the border into Bolivia. Note the chestnut head stripes, dark smudge between eye and bill, and black and white mustache. Similar to Chaco Sparrow, with which it was formerly lumped as Stripe-capped Sparrow, but is larger with more extensive black on the face, rustier wings, and a different voice. Inhabits open, grassy habitats with scattered trees and low scrub. Song is a slow series of wheezy chirps.