Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Small grayish owl with prominent ear tufts and dark red eyes, found in lowland and hill forests, forest edges, parks, and gardens. Ryukyu Scops-Owl and Oriental Scops-Owl both have yellow to orangish eyes; Japanese has a more complete collar and more contrastingly pale facial disc. Vocalizations include a variety of meowing, croaking, and barking calls, as well as shrill screeches.

A distinctive long-tailed thrush from Sulawesi. Graduated tail often appears abraded. Upperparts dark, with slate-colored back and wings. Wings show a rufous flash. Underparts warm rufous-orange in color, uniform in adults but variably speckled below in young birds, particularly around the throat. A shy terrestrial thrush that forages on forest floor and trails, found very locally in montane areas. Told from Island and Sulawesi Thrushes by notably longer tail, lack of black brow, and absence of dark throat. Largely silent; song unknown, but high-pitched whistle has been reported.

Truly long-tailed, even for a sibia, this bird appears rather dainty and small-headed in comparison with most of its relatives. Gray overall, darker on the wings and tail. Mostly lacks the contrasting patterns of other sibias, with only a small white patch near the wingtip. Forages in flocks in open hill forests, edges, and adjacent scrubby second growth. Despite striking appearance, often heard before it’s seen: listen for its loud chittering rattle.