Newton's Fiscal
Lanius newtoni
A long-tailed, upright shrike with black upperparts, a bold white bar on the wing, and yellow-buff underparts. Juvenile is brownish and barred. Very rare; the only resident shrike on São Tomé and the only fiscal that occurs in forest. Singles and pairs forage at middle levels and in the understory of undisturbed lowland and mid-altitude forest, where they are surprisingly secretive. Song is an unusual incessant ringing “teeeew” uttered once a second for about 30–60 seconds; also gives a more typical shrike-like grating “ker-ker-ker.” The similar-looking Common Fiscal does not co-occur.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Lanius newtoni
- Authority
- Barboza du Bocage, 1891
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Laniidae
- Genus
- Lanius
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Northern Hawk Owl
Surnia ulula
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.
Giant Scops-Owl
Otus gurneyi
The largest scops-owl. Inhabits lowland and lower-elevation montane forest. Brown above and whitish below, with dark teardrop-shaped streaks on the chest and sides, a white V-shape between the eyes, a facial disk with a dotted black border, and orange around the large eyes. Occurs together with Everett’s and Mindanao Scops-Owls, but Giant is much larger and has much bolder marks on the chest. Gives several different vocalizations, including a loud descending screech, a ringing nasal note, and a harsh rasping note.
Brasilia Tapaculo
Scytalopus novacapitalis
Small gray bird, typically fiendishly difficult to see in swampy gallery forest with ferns. Plump, with a short tail; note the cinnamon and black bars on vent. Like many tapaculos, the song is a long and monotonous repetition, in this case of a single “ewk” note.
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