Christmas Island-Thrush

The sexes of this large, strong-legged, long-tailed chat of rocky inselbergs and boulder-strewn woodland look different. The striking male has glossy black upperparts and chestnut underparts and rump, and in some areas a bold white shoulder patch and white crown. The female is duller, with slaty gray-brown upperparts and deeper rufous underparts, and lacks the white shoulder patch. This bird has a distinctive habit of slowly lifting its tail. It is often detected by its loud, complex, melodic song, sometimes given in duet, and often including imitations of other species. The White-winged Cliff-Chat, restricted to northeast Africa, differs from Mocking Cliff-Chat by having white patches in the wing feathers in both sexes.

Dark brown to matte black; males with iridescent bluish wings. Thick neck and heavy bill. Look for vampire-like staring red eye. Males have an incredible display where they puff out a mane of neck feathers and hover in a circle above the female. Found in a variety of open or semi-open areas, including pastures, forest edge, yards, and agricultural areas. Visits feeders. Often in flocks, sometimes with other blackbirds.

Immense and imposing owl of dense wet lowland and hill forests. Silver-gray adult is majestic, with a large yellow bill, black eyes, and sweeping sidewards-facing “horns.” Juvenile is much paler, almost white, with shorter tufts. Gives deep echoing hoots. Primarily nocturnal, but will on occasion hunt by day; takes prey as large as small deer.