Rimatara Reed Warbler

A little-known barn-owl species restricted to the island of Seram. The pale buff face, surrounded by a heart-shaped thick black facial disk, is characteristic of this owl family. Note the dark-capped appearance and the crown flecked with white streaks. Underparts are entirely buff with widely scattered, well-separated dark spots. Upperparts, nape, and crown are dark and cryptically patterned, with buff background checkered with extensive dark markings and scattered with indistinct pale spots. Specimen collected in wet montane forest. Distinctive: the only barn-owl on Seram. Recently described; only a few records. Screaming calls reported from captive bird.

This behemoth is unmistakable solely due to its massive size, much larger than any other raptor or vulture. Adults are black with a white stripe on the underwing and an orange head. Wingtips are splayed into conspicuous fingertips. Young birds are duller with a gray head and only slightly paler stripe on the underwing. Found in very small numbers in coastal hills and mountains of California and around the Grand Canyon. Usually seen soaring singly or in pairs. Critically endangered; only recently has this species started breeding successfully again in the wild.

A small, slender petrel with long, narrow wings and a long tail. It is entirely dark brown except for diagonal buff-colored bars on the upper wings. The flight is usually low over the water, with fewer high arcs than other petrels. Nests on small islets off Kauai, Oahu, and Maui, and on most of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Commonly seen offshore from boats and sometimes from shore. The call, heard only at breeding colonies, is a soft bark.