Flores Heleia

A small owl with a tiny range along the East African coast. Note the yellow eyes, the small ear tufts, and the fine spotting below. The coloration varies from gray to dark brown to bright rufous. Found very locally in coastal forest. Often found roosting in pairs or family groups in the forest's lower levels. Similar in appearance to African Scops-Owl, but found in different habitats, and separated by the spotted rather than striped underparts. The call is a series of tooting notes, reminiscent of a tinkerbird or pygmy-owl. 

A round-headed, tawny-cinnamon fishing-owl with lightly streaked underparts and a dark beak with a yellow base. It is shy, and its day roosts are well hidden in tangles and thickets along rivers in lowland primary, swamp, and flooded forests. The call is a low dove-like “ooooo” that can be confused with the call of the nocturnal White-crested Tiger-Heron. The similar Pel’s Fishing-Owl is larger and rustier, especially on the underparts, and is covered in spots, bars, and chevrons, not streaks. Vermiculated Fishing-Owl has an entirely yellow bill and its underparts are more heavily streaked.  

The red head of the breeding male is distinctive. Non-breeding male and female are nondescript, streaky brown birds with buffy eyebrows. Found in moist grassland and savanna. Most records are of territorial breeding males. Becomes inconspicuous when not breeding, mixing with flocks of other weavers and seedeaters. The call is a rough “jyet”, and the song is an unmusical chattering. Breeding male very similar to breeding male Cardinal Quelea but has more red on the nape and less on the breast, producing a more cleanly “hooded” look.