Boran Cisticola

A medium-sized honeyeater of forest interior from the lowlands to the mid-mountains. Long bill out of proportion with the rest of the body. Brown upperparts, grayish underparts and head with a red eye. Skulking and sometimes only seen flying across the road. Similar to Meyer’s Friarbird and Tawny-breasted Honeyeater, but Long-billed has a longer, thinner bill, a red rather than dark eye and lacks Tawny-breasted’s facial stripe. Call, a nasal, raspy, downslurred “reeeeuuuuww!” note.

Small and stout forest-dweller that hops and buzzes about in the canopy like a large, active insect. Note male’s iridescent dark blue back, bright red chest, and black line extending down the white belly. As with many other flowerpeckers, the female is considerably duller, with a red rump patch being the only patch of bright color on her otherwise gray-brown plumage. Endemic to Sumba, where found in wooded habitats throughout the island. Gives a short, descending series of whistles, as well as piercing high-pitched notes.

A sparrow-like weaver. Red-hooded breeding males are distinctive, but females and non-breeding males are drab. A Comoros endemic that is found in and adjacent to humid forest on the western three islands, and in drier, scrubby lowland habitats on Mayotte. Plumage varies across the different islands. The most distinctive birds, on Grand Comoro, have much less red on the breast than other populations. Can be very similar to Red Fody. Breeding male Red-headed Fody lacks red on the back and belly, though molting male Red Fody can match this pattern. Females and non-breeding males very similar to Red Fody, but Red-headed Fody is larger, darker, and more greenish, with a longer, slightly curved bill. Also similar to female House Sparrow, but distinguished by the more olive-green coloration and the longer bill. Calls are high, silvery notes, given in long series as a song.