anothertorres Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 i have these birds around the neighborhood that come out around midnight. wingspan is somewhere around 10", maybe larger. they make a ridiculous squeal while hunting around the street lights. because it's too dark to make out what this bird looks like, can someone tell me what these nocturnal hunters are? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Namphonny Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 i have these birds around the neighborhood that come out around midnight. wingspan is somewhere around 10", maybe larger. they make a ridiculous squeal while hunting around the street lights.because it's too dark to make out what this bird looks like, can someone tell me what these nocturnal hunters are? Bats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 ^^^ my thoughts exactly. We get them in the bedroom occasionally, sweet little things that need gentle handling to get them out and release (Missus hates them and keeps the window closed when I'm not there). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geekfreaklover Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Could be nightjars - nocternal hunters that flock and look like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pitbullman1 Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Becareful when handling Bats, as they are know carriers of Rabies!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anothertorres Posted August 31, 2009 Author Share Posted August 31, 2009 definitely not bats. bats have a distinct chirp and manic flight pattern. these are larger than thai bats and have this incredibly loud and menacing screech to their call. maybe nightjars, i appreciate the feedback guys, thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanno Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 I still think they are bats, Nightjars usually have pretty melodious calls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geekfreaklover Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 I still think they are bats, Nightjars usually have pretty melodious calls. True, I've never heard them call at all - they seem quite non-vocal. But if they are birds what other birds flock and hunt at night with a 10" wingspan apart from the Nightjar? Could be bats - but I've never heard bats call too much either. Having watched millions at Koh Yai - not a squeak. I thought they communicated on a different sound wave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anothertorres Posted August 31, 2009 Author Share Posted August 31, 2009 not bats. bats don't sit on a wire and make this kinda noise. there were two of them i spotted (heard them from inside the house first) last night. i went out to finally see if i could have a look at them and they look like the size of a myna bird but with a very nasty hunting call. you could hear them a block away. i know bats, these are definitely not bats. i will try and get some audio of their call. if close enough, maybe i can get a flash on them for a picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanno Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Hmm, if they were sitting on a wire than they are indeed not bats. but I've never heard bats call too much either That is wrong, though. I have a huge Fruitbat roost outside the hotel I work in and are they ever so vocal. You can hear them from a few hundred meters, both day and night. They do not use echolocation but have a good sense of sight. Might they be owls? The calls that you describe do not fit any Nightjar or Frogmouth, at least not as far as I am aware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goshawk Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 these are larger than thai bats and have this incredibly loud and menacing screech to their call. .. and around 10" wingspan and nocturnal ? also you say.. not bats. bats don't sit on a wire and make this kinda noise. I think you are almost certainly hearing/seeing the Spotted Owlet - very well noted for its screeching calls (unlike the other 2 Owlet species in Thailand that give a cleaner, softer note) and not uncommon around gardens/urban areas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anothertorres Posted August 31, 2009 Author Share Posted August 31, 2009 these are larger than thai bats and have this incredibly loud and menacing screech to their call. .. and around 10" wingspan and nocturnal ? also you say.. not bats. bats don't sit on a wire and make this kinda noise. I think you are almost certainly hearing/seeing the Spotted Owlet - very well noted for its screeching calls (unlike the other 2 Owlet species in Thailand that give a cleaner, softer note) and not uncommon around gardens/urban areas you could be on to something. the way these two birds were hunting was very similar to an american redtail hawk or a regular barn yard owl. their flight and swoop technique was very hawk-like. i'll get audio, they are always around. i used to hear them in the distance when i lived down the road. i've just moved a kilometer and have noticed that the jungle behind me is the where they were coming from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Namphonny Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 these are larger than thai bats and have this incredibly loud and menacing screech to their call. .. and around 10" wingspan and nocturnal ? also you say.. not bats. bats don't sit on a wire and make this kinda noise. I think you are almost certainly hearing/seeing the Spotted Owlet - very well noted for its screeching calls (unlike the other 2 Owlet species in Thailand that give a cleaner, softer note) and not uncommon around gardens/urban areas you could be on to something. the way these two birds were hunting was very similar to an american redtail hawk or a regular barn yard owl. their flight and swoop technique was very hawk-like. i'll get audio, they are always around. i used to hear them in the distance when i lived down the road. i've just moved a kilometer and have noticed that the jungle behind me is the where they were coming from. The bats around my house in Minburi are certainly larger than 10" wingspan. It is very easy to check - just go out with a handful of very small stones and throw them up one at a time when you see whatever it is - if they are bats one of them will soon follow a stone down nearly to ground level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doggie888888 Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Someone told me they were plovers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanno Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Red-wattled Plovers are diurnal and have a very distinctive, and loud call. Not really screeching, more like a very loud three-note whistle. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goshawk Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Red-wattled Plovers OP's bird is certainly not these quite large, long legged field foragers.. would never be seen perched up on wires for one.. (would be too difficult for them to balance + i've never seen them do it) Red-wattled Lapwings i snapped recently . i'm pretty sure as i said earlier & based on his description, that a screeching Spotted Owlet is what he has visiting his locale after dark. Can't find an example of their calls on the web for OP to listen too, but here's what they look like (they are active during the day, but are primarly nocturnal. At night would be an obvious small silouhette probably 'bobbing' up and down once it knows its been spotted, or it spots you. Get a good torch and 'beam' one next time they're around) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanno Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 There is a call of Spotted Owlet here: http://www.xeno-canto.org/asia/browse.php?...y=spotted+owlet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anothertorres Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 The bats around my house in Minburi are certainly larger than 10" wingspan.It is very easy to check - just go out with a handful of very small stones and throw them up one at a time when you see whatever it is - if they are bats one of them will soon follow a stone down nearly to ground level. not bats. i've had a thing for birds since i was a young boy. i was city raised my whole life and if there is one thing i know, it's what bats look like. and i do believe your Minburi's have over 10" wingspan. with that being said, bats are the easiest identifyable bird no matter where you are in the world. no one wonders "is that a bat?". it either is or it isn't a bat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anothertorres Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 (edited) There is a call of Spotted Owlet here: http://www.xeno-canto.org/asia/browse.php?...y=spotted+owlet yep, that's it! put a couple above you on a wire while they're hunting and you've got the most insane sound. thank you to everyone for your help and comments. i'll still try and get a pic/audio from these guys. Edited September 2, 2009 by anothertorres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomissan Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 This bird dog has been hanging around my house for sometime. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twschw Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 Just a side note: a bat is a mammal not a bird Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djgadget Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 It sounds to me like an Owl. We have loads of them where I stay in Bangna, on a golf course. DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaxFlora Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anothertorres Posted September 14, 2009 Author Share Posted September 14, 2009 here it is. loud as all get out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goshawk Posted September 14, 2009 Share Posted September 14, 2009 ^^ good record shot of a Spotted Owlet.. you get it in a torch beam ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anothertorres Posted September 14, 2009 Author Share Posted September 14, 2009 he was sitting on the wire for about 10 minutes. i was able to pull out my DSLR and leave the shutter open for 25 seconds to pull in as much light as possible. didn't want to put a beam on him in fear he'd fly away before i could get a shot of him. again, there were 2 on the wire but when i came back outside with camera equipment, only the 1 was left on the wire. i tried walking up to him and get a closer shot but i spooked him and he flew off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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