White-mantled Barbet

An incredibly dowdy small seedeater with a pink-horn bill and a pale throat. On São Tomé its color is gray-brown and on Príncipe more buffy-cinnamon. On São Tomé it is a common resident in most habitats from primary forest to suburban gardens up to 1500 meters of elevation; on Príncipe it is uncommon and more restricted to forest. Song is variable, but mostly a strident, rapidly delivered series of high-pitched notes “tseet-teet-teet-teet-tseeu-tseeu-tseeu” or similar; call is a slurred “tshweet.” The much larger Sao Tome Grosbeak is chestnut in color and rare in remote forest on São Tomé; Yellow-fronted Canary is much brighter. 

Massive pale brown owl with plump, rounded ear tufts. An endangered species, found in mature boreal forests near streams where there are tree cavities suitable for nesting. Preys mostly on fish. Distinguished from Eurasian Eagle-Owl by absence of broad black streaks on breast and rounder, thicker ear tufts that are not held erect. Deep, resonant song, given in duet by pair. Duet consists of three notes, with the first two notes from a male and a third from a female. The lower-pitched female note partially overlaps with the second male note.

Fairly common in lowlands and foothills; often along the coast south of the range of Seaside Cinclodes. Found along streams, lakeshores, on rocky coasts, and also feeding on lawns and in pastures near water. Plumage dark overall with bold white head stripes and fine whitish streaking on breast. Larger, darker, and more sluggish than sprightly Gray-flanked Cinclodes (the two can occur together in winter), with a slightly longer bill. Note the bold buffy wing stripe shown in raised wing song display from a low perch.