White-bellied Antpitta

Small, active bird of highland forests. Generally yellow below and grayish above with a chestnut cap and white outer tail feathers. White eyering is more extensive in birds from western part of range, where it forms distinct spectacles. Found only in forests of the tepui highlands (above 1000 m), where typically encountered singly or in pairs. Forages actively, gleaning insects from leaves and bark or making acrobatic sallies to catch them mid-air. Usually keeps tail partially spread, revealing white outer feathers. Song is a rapid, chippering trill, recalling Tropical Parula but without strongly accented notes, and dropping slightly in pitch. Told from Slate-throated Redstart by entirely yellow underparts (including throat) and more prominent chestnut crown.

Typical Cuculus cuckoo: most adults are gray with black stripes on a white breast and belly, but some females are “hepatic”; they appear rufous overall with extensive barring. Virtually identical to Himalayan and Oriental cuckoos, which migrate through and winter in Sunda’s range; look for Sunda’s more contrasting darker gray upperparts, wider bars on the underparts, and buffier unmarked vent. Juvenile is dark grayish black above with white edging to the feathers. Like most cuckoos, more often heard than seen; listen for its 2–3 note hooting song, which averages higher than that of Oriental. A species of montane and foothill forest.

A round-headed, tawny-cinnamon fishing-owl with lightly streaked underparts and a dark beak with a yellow base. It is shy, and its day roosts are well hidden in tangles and thickets along rivers in lowland primary, swamp, and flooded forests. The call is a low dove-like “ooooo” that can be confused with the call of the nocturnal White-crested Tiger-Heron. The similar Pel’s Fishing-Owl is larger and rustier, especially on the underparts, and is covered in spots, bars, and chevrons, not streaks. Vermiculated Fishing-Owl has an entirely yellow bill and its underparts are more heavily streaked.