Grande Comore Drongo

A medium-sized flycatcher with strikingly different male and female plumages. Male is beautifully colored, with deep blue upperparts, mostly orange underparts, and a white belly. Female is much duller, with a grayish head, gray-brown wings, a rufous tail, and rufous underparts. Scarce and local in the understory of hill forest. Song is jumble of melodious warbling and whistling notes. The calls are loud “chek” or “sit” notes, and are often mixed into the song. Similar to Bornean Blue Flycatcher, but darker, especially on the belly (in both sexes) and back (in the male). Also similar to Sunda Blue Flycatcher, but darker overall and shorter-billed. Dayak Blue Flycatcher is further distinguished by the less extensive black chin patch of the male and the rufous rather than blue tail of the female.

Rather tame songbird of shady subtropical broadleaf forests. Breeds in the northern Ryukyu Islands, with some migrating to the southern Ryukyu Islands. Bright rufous-orange above, whitish below, with a black throat, breast, and flanks in the male. Pumps the tail and flutters wings regularly, much like other robins. Most readily seen on hiking trails beside streams during the earlier hours of the day. Gives high-pitched calls and beautiful whistled songs.

Medium sized gray-brown owl with white underparts heavily streaked brown. Favors edge habitats and often roosts near creeks in woodlands. Feeds on small to medium sized mammals. Known for its diagnostic ‘woof-woof’ call which sounds like a dog barking.