Long-tailed Fiscal

Small, long-tailed antwren of the middle to upper levels of woodlands and dry forests. Males are gray with a contrasting black cap and eyebrow. The tail is black and white-tipped and the wings are black with white bars. In females note the cinnamon forehead, gray back and buff belly. The song is loud and usually given as a duet.

A Bornean highland specialty, this is for the most part the only flowerpecker inhabiting the island’s montane forests. Male is striking, with a glossy dark blue back and bright red bib. Female is duller, with a gray head, yellow-olive back, pale yellow flanks and rump, and a pale throat; no other female flowerpecker has this patterning, and other flowerpecker species do not overlap significantly in range anyhow. Forages actively at all levels of forest. Clicks loudly and persistently; also gives high thin “tseeep”s.

Flashy, rather large hummingbird of humid tropical lowlands. Favors forest edges, adjacent clearings with scattered trees and flowering bushes, and gardens. Feeds at all levels, but often in the canopy, hovering with its tail cocked and frequently flashed open to show extensive white. Note the gleaming snow-white underparts, brilliant emerald-green upperparts, and flashy white outer tail feathers. Bill is medium-length, black, and sharply pointed (often pierces flower bases to get nectar). Sexes similar overall, but female lacks purple crown of male, which can be hard to see, and has a longer tail.