Riverbank Warbler

Combination of strongly scaled breast, rufous tail, and round-headed appearance distinguish this species from others in its range. Small and skulky, sticking to dense shrubbery and shorter trees in its forest breeding grounds, where it favors dense, moist growth in lowland broadleaf forests. Often bolder on migration, emerging into forest edges and gardens. Song is distinctive, a long, wet-sounding descending trill.

Small brown warbler of middle elevations, usually retiring and seldom venturing far from the bushes and short trees from which it gives its distinctive song. Rich, dark brown above and paler gray-brown below, with tawny-brown flanks and pale supercilium. Song a resonant, long whistle followed by a short burst of sharp, bright notes, similar to songs of much larger Manchurian and Japanese Bush Warblers but the whistle is much longer and the following notes not as soft and mellow. Endemic Taiwan subspecies (robustipes) sometimes considered species, called Strong-footed Bush Warbler.

A small brown-black swallow with a short tail and comparatively weak flight. The forehead, crown, and back of the neck are dull chestnut with faint dark streaks. The back is glossy deep blue with a few narrow whitish streaks; the rump is pale brown and is more prominent in flight. The wings and tail are blackish-brown, and the tail almost square-ended. Underparts are buffy white with blackish-brown streaks, especially the chin, throat, and upper breast. Juvenile is duller and browner than adult, with buff feather edges and faint streaks on underparts. Found mostly as individuals in mixed swallow flocks; different, weaker flight action is characteristic.