Timor Cicadabird

A large, long-legged rail with rich chestnut underparts, duller brown upperparts, a greenish bill, and greenish-yellow legs. Typically encountered in pairs or small groups within dense, rank grassland or thick scrub, in the lowlands and lower hills on Sulawesi. In its limited range, most likely to be confused with female Watercock, but the bush-hen lacks any markings on the upperside and has brighter, chestnut-colored underparts. Noisy, giving harsh “tak-tak-tak-tak” calls in addition to rasping “groOw-groOw-groOw…”.

Small brown owl with large dark eyes and small, soft-looking ear tufts. Dark brown, almost black, eyes separate it from otherwise similar species such as Mountain and Rajah scops-owls. Reddish Scops-Owl is also dark-eyed, but it is darker-faced and tinged with rufous overall. Like most other small scops-owls, Sunda is more readily heard than seen: it gives yelping hoots at widely-spaced intervals. Relatively tolerant of human habitation; often encountered in gardens, plantations, and parks, as well as forests.

Spectacular large jay, very local and endemic to mountains of northwest Mexico, where mainly occurs in pine-oak forest. Usually found in small groups, roving high to low through the forest, often in association with flocks of the smaller Steller’s Jay. Unmistakable and striking, with stiff bushy crest (tuft), yellow eyes, black-and-white head pattern, and broad white tail tip. Immature has duller face with shorter crest and blue patch below eyes. Varied calls may attract attention.