Yemen Serin

A small honeyeater with a short, downcurved bill. Male is striking: blackish with a bright red hood and rump and a paler underside. Female is largely gray-brown save for a light wash of red on the throat and head. Singles or pairs inhabit the canopy of forest and forest edge in the lowlands and foothills on the island of Sumba. It is the only myzomela in its range, rendering it unmistakable. Vocalizations include uneven phrases of “tizew” notes, and harsher “tzit” notes.

A large, long-tailed bird of montane forest with a long, curved bill. Male has black upperparts with some iridescence, brown underparts and very long tail. Female is brown above with rufous crown, barred belly and black face. Male does an astonishing display, where two articulated fans are lifted above the head and the whole body is swayed up and down. Similar to Black Sicklebill, but Brown is usually found at higher elevations and has a pale blue eye. Male has brown and female a barred chest. Voice, sounds scarily like short bursts of a machine gunfire.

Massive pale brown owl with plump, rounded ear tufts. An endangered species, found in mature boreal forests near streams where there are tree cavities suitable for nesting. Preys mostly on fish. Distinguished from Eurasian Eagle-Owl by absence of broad black streaks on breast and rounder, thicker ear tufts that are not held erect. Deep, resonant song, given in duet by pair. Duet consists of three notes, with the first two notes from a male and a third from a female. The lower-pitched female note partially overlaps with the second male note.