Timor Cuckoo-Dove

A small hornbill that is mostly black, including on the tail. Female is entirely black with a blackish-gray bill; male has a conspicuous cream-colored face and a pale bill. Juvenile looks like a male with a smaller bill. Found in groups at middle to upper levels of lowland and foothill forests. Notably smaller than Knobbed Hornbill, and differs in the black tail, the lack of a prominent casque, and the pale face of males. Noisy vocalizations include an excited, bracing series of notes sometimes given in an extended sequence: “kerok-tee-kerok-tee-kerok-tee-tee…”.

This distinctive sparrow is common in open montane woodland usually dominated by pine. Primarily a Mexican species, barely enters U.S. Much like Gray-headed and Red-backed subspecies of Dark-eyed Junco but with staring yellow eye and rufous back usually extending onto wings. Otherwise pale gray, darkest around the eye. Bill half black, half yellow. White outer tail feathers like Dark-eyed Junco. Forages on the ground, but perches higher when singing. Song has a similar ringing tone to Dark-eyed Junco, but usually with several distinct sections of chips and trills.

Poorly known cuckooshrike with a restricted range on the large island of Timor, as well as several smaller islands in the region. The male is mostly uniform gray, and quite plain. Females are much bolder: gray on the upperparts, with a black wing, edged in white, and pale underparts with fine barring. Habitat requirements are poorly understood, but certainly found in wooded environments at lower elevations. Vocalizations also poorly known.