Delicate Prinia

Medium-sized, rather slender owl with long "ear" tufts. Extensive range across Northern Hemisphere. North American birds are rather dark and coarsely marked, with pumpkin-colored face patches and yellow eyes. Eurasian populations are paler overall, especially on the face, and have reddish eyes. Strictly nocturnal; rarely seen foraging at dusk and dawn. Found in areas with a mix of dense cover for roosting, such as brushy thickets or conifer groves, and open spaces for hunting. Generally uncommon to rare and seldom-seen, but can gather in communal winter roosts with dozens of individuals (if you're lucky enough to find a roost, do not disturb the birds). Compare with Short-eared Owl. Typical vocalization is a single low “woop” repeated every few seconds; also gives a wide range of maniacal catlike screeches and doglike barks.

A dull, short-tailed brownish forest-floor skulker, cold above and warmer below. Has a very thin beak, and long legs and big feet that it lifts in a “goosestep” fashion. This taxonomic enigma is now considered an aberrant dwarf forest wagtail, although it looks more like a terrestrial warbler. Endemic to São Tomé, where it is scarce in interior forests up to 1540 meters of elevation, preferring margins of small rivers, often with logs and debris. Found singly or in pairs. Calls include a thin, high-pitched “seeeep” whistle. 

Tiny and active sunbird of forest edges and open woodlands, endemic to a string of Flores Sea islands from Tanahjampea east to Kalaotoa and Madu. Male is dark gray-brown above, with an extensive iridescent blue-black throat; if seen well, note a dark coppery belt dividing the iridescent throat from the black belly. Female is olive above, with a bright yellow eyebrow and underparts. In both sexes, note white tail edges that are flared out in flight. Gives a buzzily squeaky “bzeet” call, as well as a strident song with a similar cadence. Formerly grouped with other, closely related species under “Olive-backed Sunbird.”