Bird Guide

Discover 20 bird species

Himalayan Cuckoo

Cuculus saturatus

Visually indistinguishable from Oriental Cuckoo. Adult male is gray above with a black-and-white-barred belly and a dark gray tail; females usually look similar, but some (known as hepatic morph birds) have cinnamon-brown upperparts with black barring throughout. Intermediate in size between Common and Lesser Cuckoos; distinguished from both species by buffy (not white) under-tail feathers and from Lesser Cuckoos by yellow iris. Song is a series of five notes, with the leading note being sharper and more distinct than the four that follow; compare with Oriental Cuckoo’s series of mellow paired notes. Breeds in a wide range of different lowland and hill forests; also more open habitats outside of breeding season.

Lewin's Honeyeater

Meliphaga lewinii

A medium-sized olive-gray honeyeater with a pale yellow cheek patch and a relatively stout bill. Cheek patch is often a crescent compared to the circular patch on Graceful Honeyeater and the oval path on Yellow-spotted Honeyeater. Adults have a bluish eye, while the similar Graceful Honeyeater has a blue-gray eye and Yellow-spotted Honeyeater has a brown eye. Listen for the rapid staccato machine-gun call of Lewin’s compared to the loud repeated whistles of the Yellow-spotted Honeyeater and the more simple, single note call of Graceful Honeyeater. Of the three easily confusable species, this is the only one found away from the tropics; it occurs in wetter forests and gardens all along the eastern coast of Australia.

Reunion Gray White-eye

Zosterops borbonicus

An unusual white-eye that lacks white around the eye, but has a puffy white rump patch. The coloration is highly variable, with four morphs occupying largely separate distributions. Can be mostly brown, mostly gray, or a mix of the two. Found in virtually all habitats with woody vegetation on the island of Reunion. A conspicuous, sociable bird that is usually found in flocks. Vaguely similar to Reunion White-eye, but easily separated by the lack of a white eye-ring and the lack of olive-green in the plumage. The song is a repetitive series of warbling notes, typical of a white-eye. The calls are rattling and squealing notes. 

Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo

Hierococcyx vagans

Large hawk-like cuckoo, dark gray-brown above with streaked underparts and long tail with broad dark bands. Distinctly falcon-like facial pattern distinguishes this species from other hawk-cuckoos. Can be difficult to see, concealed in dense vegetation of lowland and foothill forests and their edges. Vocalizations include a bright two-note “wheup wheup!” and an ascending series of similar notes that abruptly stops after reaching a feverish pitch.

Rufous-backed Sibia

Leioptila annectens

Ebony head and snowy throat, combined with the hazy mixture of bright orange and black on the back, give this bird a distinctly “tortoiseshell” appearance. Appears larger-headed and slightly shorter-tailed than other sibias. Inhabits foothill and montane forests, where it travels in pairs and flocks through the canopy. Unlike other sibias, frequently clambers around on tree trunks and branches like a nuthatch. Listen for its lovely warbled song and buzzy chattering calls.

White-tailed Tyrannulet

Mecocerculus poecilocercus

A small, pale, and active tyrannulet with a small bill. No bright colors; look for bold white eyebrow, pale yellowish rump, and two off-white wingbars. Tends to perch horizontally, often with its tail cocked up slightly. Flits actively, usually in the canopy and often part of a mixed-species flock. Occurs in cloud forest and edges from Colombia to Peru, from around 1,500 to 2,500 m. Similar to White-banded Tyrannulet, but smaller and found at lower elevations; also note White-banded’s thicker white eyebrow, gleaming white wingbars, and generally more contrasting plumage than White-tailed. Often detected by series of three or four squeaky “psee” notes coming from a canopy flock.

Pink Cockatoo

Cacatua leadbeateri

Distinctive cockatoo found in a wide variety of habitats across inland Australia, typically favoring dry woodlands, where it feeds on seeds. Relatively small, with pink underparts and white upperparts. Magnificent, long white crest has colorful band of red at base, in subspecies leadbeateri inset with another band of yellow. In flight, pink underwings evident. Often observed feeding on the ground beside roads. Call a wavering, high-pitched note.

Gray-hooded Warbler

Phylloscopus xanthoschistos

Delicately beautiful small warbler with a greenish back, lemon-yellow underparts, a cinder-gray head, and bright white eyebrow stripes. Somewhat similar to Yellow-bellied Warbler, but note yellow instead of white throat. Forages actively in the upper levels of broadleaf and mixed montane forest, often in open patches. Sometimes descends to lower elevations in the non-breeding season, often turning up in foothill forest edges and gardens. Song is a high-pitched “tchi-tchi-cheeseewee-cheeseewee.” Calls are high, thin double notes. 

Striated Lorikeet

Charmosyna multistriata

A rare, medium-sized lorikeet of foothill and lower montane forest. Green body with yellow-green striations on the face and underparts, and a gray band from the eye around the back of the head. Bicolored bill is blue-gray above and orange-yellow below. In flight, lacks the yellow bar in the wing or any red. Travels in pairs or small groups, but gathers in larger groups at flowering trees. Similar to Goldie’s Lorikeet but Striated has light streaks and lacks the pink face. Sounds like other closely-related species.

Fan-tailed Cuckoo

Cacomantis flabelliformis

A medium-sized cuckoo, with a warm buff colored chest and belly. Bright yellow eyering and heavily barred tail. Take care to identify from Brush Cuckoo (which has a gray eyering), and from Pallid Cuckoo (which is paler and lacks the warm breast tones). Often detected by sound since this species calls frequently with a descending trill. Perches in the midstory on exposed branches, and flushes easily to a nearby perch.

Halmahera Oriole

Oriolus phaeochromus

A nondescript, uniformly earth-brown medium-sized bird with a stout bill. Sexes alike. Singles and pairs can be found in the upper levels of forest, forest edge, mangroves, and nearby cultivated areas in lowlands and foothills. Sometimes joins mixed-species flocks. Differs from the similarly dark brown White-streaked Friarbird in its consistently uniform appearance, lacking any streaking or pale markings on the head. Gives a rollicking, fluty call, “ke-ke-KWEEOW.” First two notes can be barely audible, but last note powerful and loud.

Dusky Turtle-Dove

Streptopelia lugens

Very dark dove with a black mark on the neck. When seen well, shows beautiful rufous edges to the wing feathers. Slightly paler gray corners to the tail are evident in flight. Found at middle and high elevations in a wide variety of habitats, including forest edge, woodland, gardens, and cultivation. The call is a quiet series of descending growl notes. Somewhat like Red-eyed Dove, but smaller and much darker overall, without a contrastingly paler head.

Collared Inca

Coeligena torquata

This large, flashy hummingbird is a common resident throughout much of the Andes, where it inhabits lush cloud forest and frequently visits feeders. Note the white breast patch and long, straight bill. The white tail markings really stand out when it flares its tail, which it often does when interacting with other hummers around feeders. Male is darker than female, sometimes almost black, which makes his colorful crown patch more evident. Birds found south of central Peru and north of the Colombia-Venezuela border region are now considered to be separate species, Gould’s Inca and Green Inca respectively.

Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Amazilia yucatanensis

Green hummingbird with red bill, orange tail, and buffy patch on belly. The namesake belly patch can be difficult to see; tail and bill color are better ways to separate it from other hummingbirds. Males and females similar. Common in Mexico; limited range in U.S. Found in a variety of wooded or shrubby habitats, usually around flowers. Visits hummingbird feeders.

Enggano Imperial-Pigeon

Ducula oenothorax

Large pigeon from Enggano island off Sumatra. Other than deep green wings and back, predominantly pale gray, though slightly darker on the back of the neck. Distinctive pale pink wash across the chest. Inhabits wooded areas including edge and second growth near human habitation. No pigeons of a similar size and color occur on the island. Very vocal, with a wide repertoire, including a purring “krooooo”.

White-bellied Fantail

Rhipidura euryura

As the name indicates, a dark gray fantail with a white belly. Also note white eyebrow and white-tipped tail feathers. Malaysian Pied Fantail is somewhat similar, but has a bright white throat, is darker overall, and favors different habitats. Inhabits foothill and montane forests, where it is generally uncommon. Forages actively, often associating with mixed flocks, moving through the lower and middle levels of forest. Often in dense, tangled vegetation. Song is a jumble of high whistled notes. Calls include a quiet “ch’reer” and pips.

Speckled Nightingale-Thrush

Catharus maculatus

Small, attractively patterned thrush of tropical and subtropical evergreen forest in foothills and subtropics. Usually elusive and heard far more often than seen. Feeds mainly on the ground, but also in fruiting bushes and trees. Sings from low to middle level perches. Plumage distinctive: black head, contrasting orange eyering, bill, and legs, and yellow underparts with dusky spotting. Song distinctive: slow, fluty, whistled phrases, given in a varied series. Occurs on both slopes of the Andes from western Venezuela to northern Argentina. Similar to Yellow-throated Nightingale-Thrush but no range overlap.

Gray Antbird

Cercomacra cinerascens

Slender, long-tailed antbird of rainforest midstory. One of the most common antbirds in Amazonian rainforest, and can be found around forest edges and dense secondary growth as well as in more mature rainforest. Prefers vine tangles in the subcanopy, and can be very hard to see as they forage in dense, high vegetation. Males are gray with white wing bars; females are grayish brown with white wing bars. Both sexes have bold white spots on the underside of the tail. Its song is one of the most frequently heard sounds in Amazonia, a slow bouncing “erk, CHAT, erk, CHAT, …”

Bronze Parotia

Parotia berlepschi

A fairly large, short-tailed bird of mid-mountane forest canopy in the Foja Mountains. Male is mainly black with white flanks, bronzy-scaled chest and 6 antennalike feathers projecting from the back of the head. Note the blue eye. The female is dull brown above with rufous in the wing, strongly-barred underparts and pale bands above and below the eye. The male dances at a terrestrial display court. There are no other similar birds-of-paradise that co-occur. Vocalizations include loud rasps, rattles or a single or double-note squeak “wi-dik!”.

Yellow-fronted Parrot

Poicephalus flavifrons

A chunky, mid-sized parrot with a big bill and a short tail. Mostly dark green, with a large yellow patch on the face that is absent in immatures. An Ethiopian endemic that is found at middle elevations in a variety of woodland and forest habitats. The calls are thin, high-pitched screeches. Similar to Meyer’s Parrot, but there is little overlap in range, and Yellow-fronted is separated by the lack of yellow shoulders and by the green upperparts.