List of birds of East Timor

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This is a list of the bird species recorded in East Timor. The avifauna of East Timor include a total of 278 species.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World, 6th edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for East Timor.

The following tags have been used to highlight several categories, but not all species fall into one of these categories. Those that do not are commonly occurring native species.

  • (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in East Timor
  • (E) Endemic - a species endemic to East Timor
  • (I) Introduced - a species introduced to East Timor as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions


Grebes[]

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. There are two species which have been recorded in East Timor.

  • Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
  • Australasian grebe, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

Shearwaters and petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterized by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

Austral storm petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

The austral storm petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

Northern storm petrels[]

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

Tropicbirds[]

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their long wings have black markings, as does the head.

  • White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus
  • Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda

Boobies and gannets[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.

  • Red-footed booby, Sula sula
  • Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
  • Masked booby, Sula dactylatra

Cormorants[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage coloration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colorful.

  • Little pied cormorant, Microcarbo melanoleucos
  • Little black cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Darters[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Darters are often called "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark-brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving.

Frigatebirds[]

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black-and-white or completely black, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have colored inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

  • Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel
  • Christmas frigatebird, Fregata andrewsi (A)
  • Great frigatebird, Fregata minor

Herons, egrets, and bitterns[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons, and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

  • Great-billed heron, Ardea sumatrana
  • Purple heron, Ardea purpurea
  • Great egret, Ardea alba
  • Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia
  • Pied heron, Egretta picata
  • White-faced heron, Egretta novaehollandiae
  • Little egret, Egretta garzetta
  • Pacific reef-heron, Egretta sacra
  • Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
  • Javan pond-heron, Ardeola speciosa
  • Striated heron, Butorides striata
  • Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
  • Nankeen night-heron, Nycticorax caledonicus
  • Yellow bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis
  • Schrenck's bittern, Ixobrychus eurhythmus (A)
  • Cinnamon bittern, Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
  • Black bittern, Ixobrychus flavicollis

Ibises and spoonbills[]

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

  • Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
  • Australian white ibis, Threskiornis moluccus (A)
  • Royal spoonbill, Platalea regia

Ducks, geese and swans[]

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

  • Wandering whistling duck, Dendrocygna arcuata
  • Radjah shelduck, Radjah radjah (A)
  • Green pygmy goose, Nettapus pulchellus
  • Pacific black duck, Anas superciliosa
  • Sunda teal, Anas gibberifrons
  • Grey teal, Anas gracilis
  • Hardhead, Aythya australis
  • Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A)

Osprey[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

  • Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites[]

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

  • Pacific baza, Aviceda subcristata
  • Oriental honey-buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus
  • Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus
  • Black kite, Milvus migrans
  • Brahminy kite, Haliastur indus
  • White-bellied sea-eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster
  • Short-toed snake-eagle, Circaetus gallicus
  • Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciata
  • Chinese sparrowhawk, Accipiter soloensis
  • Japanese sparrowhawk, Accipiter gularis
  • Brown goshawk, Accipiter fasciatus
  • Gray-faced buzzard, Butastur indicus
  • Spotted harrier, Circus assimilis (A)

Caracaras and falcons[]

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons. There are five species which have been recorded in East Timor.

  • Spotted kestrel, Falco moluccensis
  • Nankeen kestrel, Falco cenchroides
  • Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo (A)
  • Australian hobby, Falco longipennis
  • Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Megapodes[]

Order: Galliformes   Family: Megapodiidae

The Megapodiidae are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet. All but the malleefowl occupy jungle habitats and most have brown or black coloring. There is 1 species which has been recorded in East Timor.

  • Orange-footed scrubfowl, Megapodius reinwardt

Pheasants, grouse, and allies[]

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings. There are 3 species which have been recorded in East Timor.

  • Brown quail, Synoicus ypsilophorus
  • Blue-breasted quail, Synoicus chinensis
  • Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus

Rails, gallinules, and coots[]

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

  • Buff-banded rail, Gallirallus philippensis
  • Slaty-breasted rail, Lewinia striata
  • White-breasted waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus
  • White-browed crake, Poliolimnas cinereus
  • Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla (A)
  • Ruddy-breasted crake, Zapornia fusca
  • Spotless crake, Zapornia tabuensis
  • Black-backed swamphen, Porphyrio indicus
  • Australasian swamphen, Porphyrio melanotus
  • Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
  • Dusky moorhen, Gallinula tenebrosa
  • Eurasian coot, Fulica atra

Buttonquails[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Turnicidae

The buttonquails are small, drab, running birds which resemble the true quails. The female is the brighter of the sexes and initiates courtship. The male incubates the eggs and tends the young.

Jacanas[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

The jacanas are a group of tropical waders in the family Jacanidae. They are found throughout the tropics. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. There is 1 species which has been recorded in East Timor.

  • Comb-crested jacana, Irediparra gallinacea

Painted-snipe[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Rostratulidae

Painted-snipe are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly colored.

  • Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis (A)

Avocets and stilts[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. There is 1 species which has been recorded in East Timor.

  • White-headed stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus

Thick-knees[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

Pratincoles and coursers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards. There are 2 species which have been recorded in East Timor.

Plovers and lapwings[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

  • Masked lapwing, Vanellus miles (A)
  • Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
  • Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
  • Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
  • Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus (A)
  • Javan plover, Charadrius javanicus (A)
  • Malaysian plover, Charadrius peronii
  • Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus
  • Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
  • Oriental plover, Charadrius veredus
  • Red-capped plover, Charadrius ruficapillus

Sandpipers and allies[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Skuas and jaegers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. There are 2 species which have been recorded in East Timor.

  • Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
  • Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers[]

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with gray or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.

Pigeons and doves[]

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Cockatoos[]

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Cacatuidae

The cockatoos share many features with other parrots including the characteristic curved beak shape and a zygodactyl foot, with two forward toes and two backwards toes. They differ, however in a number of characteristics, including the often spectacular movable headcrest. There is 1 species which has been recorded in East Timor.

  • Yellow-crested cockatoo, Cacatua sulphurea

Old World parrots[]

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

  • Blue-streaked lory, Eos reticulata (A)
  • Marigold lorikeet, Trichoglossus capistratus
  • Olive-headed lorikeet, Trichoglossus euteles
  • Iris lorikeet, Saudareos iris
  • Jonquil parrot, Aprosmictus jonquillaceus
  • Red-cheeked parrot, Geoffroyus geoffroyi
  • Great-billed parrot, Tanygnathus megalorynchos

Cuckoos and anis[]

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Barn owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

  • Barn owl, Tyto alba

Typical owls[]

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

  • Southern boobook, Ninox boobook

Nightjars[]

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

Swifts[]

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. There are 5 species which have been recorded in East Timor.

  • Drab swiftlet, Collocalia neglecta
  • White-nest swiftlet, Aerodramus fuciphagus
  • White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus
  • Pacific swift, Apus pacificus
  • House swift, Apus nipalensis

Kingfishers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Bee-eaters[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterized by richly colored plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colorful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar. There are 2 species which have been recorded in East Timor.

Typical rollers[]

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colorful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not. There is 1 species which has been recorded in East Timor.

  • Dollarbird, Eurystomus orientalis

Pittas[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pittidae

Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards and are stocky, with fairly long, strong legs, short tails and stout bills. Many are brightly colored. They spend the majority of their time on wet forest floors, eating snails, insects and similar invertebrates.

  • Elegant pitta, Pitta elegans

Larks[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

Swallows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Wagtails and pipits[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country. There are 5 species which have been recorded in East Timor.

Cuckooshrikes[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly grayish with white and black, although some species are brightly colored.

Bulbuls[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds. Some are colorful with yellow, red or orange vents, cheeks, throats or supercilia, but most are drab, with uniform olive-brown to black plumage. Some species have distinct crests.

Cupwings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pnoepygidae

  • Pygmy wren-babbler, Pnoepyga pusilla

Thrushes and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

Cisticolas and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or gray appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub.

Bush warblers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

Locustellid warblers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Acrocephalid warblers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

Phylloscopid warblers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Old World flycatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Fantails[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders. There are 2 species which have been recorded in East Timor.

Monarch flycatchers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

The monarch flycatchers are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines which hunt by flycatching.

  • Island monarch, Monarcha cinerascens
  • Spectacled monarch, Symposiachrus trivirgatus
  • Magpie-lark, Grallina cyanoleuca (A)
  • Broad-billed flycatcher, Myiagra ruficollis

Whistlers and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pachycephalidae

The family Pachycephalidae includes the whistlers, shrikethrushes, and some of the pitohuis.

Thornbills and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acanthizidae

Thornbills are small passerine birds, similar in habits to the tits. There is 1 species which has been recorded in East Timor.

Sunbirds and spiderhunters[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nectariniidae

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

Flowerpeckers[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicaeidae

The flowerpeckers are very small, stout, often brightly colored birds, with short tails, short thick curved bills and tubular tongues. There are 3 species which have beeb recorded in East Timor.

White-eyes[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

The white-eyes are small and mostly undistinguished, their plumage above being generally some dull color like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. As their name suggests, many species have a white ring around each eye. There are 3 species which have been recorded in East Timor.

Honeyeaters[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Meliphagidae

The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium-sized birds most common in Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia. They are nectar feeders and closely resemble other nectar-feeding passerines.

Old World orioles[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colorful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles. There are 2 species which have been recorded in East Timor.

Shrikes[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey. There is 1 species which has been recorded in East Timor.

  • Long-tailed shrike, Lanius schach

Drongos[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

The drongos are mostly black or dark gray in color, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground. There is 1 species which has been recorded in East Timor.

  • Wallacean drongo, Dicrurus densus

Woodswallows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Artamidae

The woodswallows are soft-plumaged, somber-colored passerine birds. They are smooth, agile flyers with moderately large, semi-triangular wings. There are 2 species which have been recorded in East Timor.

  • White-breasted woodswallow, Artamus leucorynchus
  • Black-faced woodswallow, Artamus cinereus

Crows, jays, ravens and magpies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence. There is 1 species which has been recorded in East Timor.

Starlings[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

Waxbills and allies[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colors and patterns. There are 8 species which have been recorded in East Timor.

Old World sparrows[]

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or gray birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects. There is 1 species which has been recorded in East Timor.

  • Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (I)

References[]

  • Lepage, Denis. "Checklist of birds of Timor-Leste". Bird Checklists of the World. Avibase. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  • Clements, James F. (2000). Birds of the World: a Checklist. Cornell University Press. p. 880. ISBN 0-934797-16-1.
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