Whiskered Auklet

A small, dark songster of montane forest floor and undergrowth. Note dark brown body with a fairly bold white eyebrow. Unlike most shortwings, there is little difference between male and female plumages, though eyebrow may be less conspicuous on females. Furtive and difficult to see well; forages on the ground of various types of forest, including bamboo, fern, and mossy forest. Song a short phrase starting with a high-pitched clear whistle, followed by a jumbled slightly flutey note. Call a relatively low, knocking wooden rattle.

Large, handsome antbird with a bare red eye-ring. Males are black with chestnut wing patches and have white scales above. Females are chestnut with white wingbars. Inhabits the understory of humid forests, but has also been recorded in white sand forests. Only forages at army-ant swarms. The song is a series of nasal descending whistles. Both sexes of the Black-spotted Bare-Eye have brown-olive wings and backs covered with large black spots.

Typical scops-owl, with small ear tufts that can be hidden, especially when roosting during the day. Color varies from gray to brown to rufous, with rufous birds more prevalent in the eastern rainforest. Inhabits both moist and dry habitats throughout Madagascar, including rainforest, dry deciduous forest, spiny forest, scrub, and plantations. Often found on day roosts in low tangles. Song varies geographically. In the east, it is a punctuated “tru-tru-tru…”. In the west it is a more rolling “trrr-trrr-trrr…”. Intermediate vocalizations can be heard in transitional zones, such as far northern Madagascar. Much smaller than all of Madagascar’s other owls.