Collared Owlet, front

Collared Owlet, back

I have heard it call, I have seen it flying away, but I have never had a proper view of  the Collared Owlet in Borneo.  Until now.  This endemic subspecies G. b. borneense has a different call from the others from Mainland Asia.  But together, they keep their status as the smallest owl in Asia (16cm).  In Borneo, it prefers the montane forest but has been seen in lower habitat.

Special thanks to my friends – Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatchers, Yellow-breasted Warblers, White-throated Fantails and Bornean Whistlers – their combined effort led me to this bird.

The Fruithunter Chlamydochaera jefferyi  is one of the most sought after birds in the mountains of Borneo.  Its scarcity may be associated with its feeding habits of moving around the forest in search of fruiting trees and staying in the area for only as long as the fruit supply last.  Also not very helpful is its high-pitched, drawn-out see-eet call which is usually very soft.  Once I observed a pair taking turns to feed their young.  One parent always stayed with the nestling while the other was out.  Good parenting!