Fork-tailed Sunbird

A medium-sized, long-tailed bird of lowland and foothill forest in the western Visayas. Black on the upperparts and tail, with a white belly and pale pink legs. Male has a black throat and chest. Female has a rufous patch on the rump and lower back, and a white throat with a black breast band. Somewhat similar to Philippine Magpie-Robin, but has a long white eyebrow and no white wing patch. Heard more often than seen. Gives a very varied song, with loud melodic whistles, warbling trills, and repeated loud “chew chew chew!” notes.

Brightly-colored barbet restricted to the Annamite Range of southern Vietnam and southeastern Laos, where it inhabits hill and montane forests. Like other barbets, often sticks close to dense foliage in the canopy, where it can be difficult to see; listen instead for its echoing hiccuping song, which has a frog-like quality. If seen well, note the leaf-green body, thick black mask and “eyebrow”, red forehead, and bright yellow throat and crown. Namesake “necklace” consists of a thin black line across the throat which can be difficult to see. Very similar to closely-related Golden-throated Barbet, but ranges do not overlap.

A distinctive rainforest greenbul with olive-brown upperparts, pale underparts, white spots on the wings, and white outer tail feathers. Found in the canopy of humid forest at low and middle elevations, usually in restless flocks of 5-15 individuals, but occasionally gathers by the dozens. Often flicks out one wing, an odd and distinctive behavior. Somewhat similar to nicators, but found in the canopy, and easily separated by the unhooked bill, the white tail edges, and the white rather than yellow spots on the back. Very vocal, constantly giving a penetrating “stick” call.