Tukangbesi Sunbird

A bulbul-sized olive-brown bird that sports a diagnostic red-tipped yellow bill, a red eye without an eye-wattle, and a pale buff rump. The juvenile lacks the bright bill and eye coloration but shows the pale rump. Small groups occur in savanna and farmland, where they require large wild ungulates and domestic stock to forage on; they clamber agilely over host mammals, gleaning ticks, mites and other ectoparasites, and occasionally drinking host blood. As they fly between large mammals, they give a distinctive sizzling-crackle call. The similar Red-billed Oxpecker differs from Yellow-billed Oxpecker by having a red bill, a yellow eye-wattle, and a dark rump the same color as the remainder of the upperparts.

A thrush-sized bird with a fairly long horn-colored bill. Uniform rich olive-green above and all yellow underneath, with dark eyes. Juveniles duller and pale-eyed. Typically found in pairs or small groups in primary and degraded forest, plantations, and mangroves, in lowlands and lower hills. Confined to a cluster of islands in the North Moluccas where there are no other bulbuls or similar species. Loud, jumbled, characteristic bulbul-like-song consists of repeated “chidlydu-chidlydu-chidlydu” phrases. Also gives thin, high-pitched insect-like “tsee” notes and rasping “weerrrr” calls.

Typical scops-owl, endemic to Java’s montane and foothill forests. Favors the upper and middle levels of the forest, frequently roosting and foraging in the lower canopy. Warm brown with black streaks on the chest and prominent white eyebrows. Also note bright orange eyes. Collared Scops-Owl can be similar, but is larger overall, with darker eyes, more solid facial border, and less contrasting eyebrows. Quiet for a scops-owl, vocalizing fairly infrequently--listen for its squealing “eEEE-eeee”, which often has a trembling quality. Also gives sharper, shorter squeal calls, and a gruff “wurk.”