Mottled Swift

Medium-sized songbird, endemic to Selayar, off southwestern Sulawesi. Quite drab overall, with a gray head, white throat, yellow belly, and olive back. Like other Pacycephala whistlers, a forest species, often seen gleaning insects from the foliage. Vocalizations are poorly known, but includes a short whistled song that starts with a quiet descending note, followed by two loud rising whistles and a decisive-sounding descending note: tso-WEE-WEE-dzo! Formerly treated as a subspecies of Tenggara Whistler.

Fairly common in lowlands and foothills (rarely at higher elevations), where it is found in town parks, gardens, matorral, woodland, and open and semiopen areas with bushes. Spirited bubbling and warbling song can be prolonged and draw attention, but often given from concealed perch in the tree canopy. Like other siskins, often in flocks, especially in nonbreeding season. Male is yellow overall with messy blackish cap and chin patch. Female is a rather drab grayish or yellowish overall, but note distinctive yellow wing patches. Compare with Grassland Yellow-Finch, which often occurs in same areas.

Small brownish owl with staring yellow eyes and densely-patterned underparts. Endemic to the eastern Indonesdian islands of Alor and Pantar. Inhabits a range of wooded habitats, from primary rainforest to lightly wooded plantations. Unlike many other Boobooks, this species does not say “boo-book”, or any variation thereof, instead giving an extended series of deep growling notes. Formerly regarded as a subspecies of Southern Boobook.