Piping Hornbill

Distinctive but understated, this wholly glossy blackbird with a rather long, sharply pointed bill occurs in a wide range of mainly open habitats, from town parks and farmland with hedges and bushes to mattorral scrub and open forest. Feeds on the ground, at flowers, and in trees on fruit, often in small flocks. Voice is highly varied, sometimes loud, and can draw attention. Fairly common in central Chile, becoming uncommon farther south and in Argentina. Compare with cowbirds, which are smaller with shorter bills.

Originally restricted to the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali, this crested myna has since been introduced to Singapore, Taiwan, and various parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. Dark gray overall with a spiffy erect crest and a bright yellowish-orange bill. Darker than Jungle Myna, with which it overlaps in both its native and introduced ranges. Also compare with Crested Myna; note Javan’s brighter bill and white vent. Bold and social, foraging in farms, parks, and gardens. Roosts in large noisy flocks, often close to human habitation.

A large black-and-white hornbill with a huge bill and casque. The plumage is almost entirely black, but for the white on the belly and the sides of the throat. Sexes are alike, except that the female has a white patch around the eye. In flight, note the white tail with a black tip, and the black wings with a thin white bar in the middle and a thick white edge. It inhabits evergreen and deciduous forests and forest edges. Calls include loud and often maniacal-sounding clucking and braying.