Brown Barbet

A small, compact, pale gray owl with tiny ear tufts. Found on the island of Socotra, where it inhabits arid habitats with trees, including palms. Most often detected by voice: two or three quiet introductory “phut” notes followed by a resonant “prreuup”, often repeating, sometimes for long periods. This is the only small owl known from Socotra, though the migratory Eurasian Scops-Owl might occur. Best distinguished by voice, though Socotra Scops-Owl is smaller and paler, with smaller ear tufts.

Long-tailed cuckoo that clambers about in the branches like a squirrel. Male predominantly bright rufous-brown with darker tail, female has gray head and chest. Both sexes have bright blue skin around the eye and blue bill. Forages in middle levels of vegetation in lowland and foothill forests, singly or in pairs. Gives sharp meowing calls (often repeated), as well as croaks and chirping notes.

Only the male of this rotund ground-dweller is truly blue; the female only has a hint of blue on the rump and tail. Male is brilliant and eye-catching if seen well: sky-blue on the back with a polka-dotted light blue breast and belly. Female has gray-brown wings and finely barred white underparts. Both sexes boast a pale face and a thin black eyebrow, above which flames a lava-red crown (darker in males than in females). Forages on the densely-vegetated floor of forests from the lowlands up into montane regions, often in gorges, in ravines, and near streams. Song is a liquid ‘cho’mew-wit!’, with a clipped-sounding last note.