Spotted Honeyguide

A smallish rail of montane forest. Deep chestnut color. Male has a chestnut back with some black wing feathers, while the female has all black wings covered with white dots. Flutters wings when alarmed, flashing white dots. Forages very actively, even frantically, tossing leaves and moss aside to uncover invertebrates. Similar to White-striped and Forbes’s Forest-Rails, but Chestnut is smaller and the male has no white mark’s or fully dark wings, and female has spotted rear flanks. Calls, harsh raspy notes or squeaks.

A colorful stubby-tailed bird, also known as “Navrang,” translated as “nine colors.” Colors are most striking when the bird is in flight. This bird has long, strong legs and a stout bill, a buffy crown with a black stripe in the middle, a black eye-stripe, and and buffy underparts with bright red on the vent. Upperparts are green, with a blue shoulder patch. It is usually seen foraging on forest floors with thick undergrowth, catching insects in leaf litter. This bird is vocal, giving its characteristic two-noted whistle call at dusk and dawn.

Large, pale pigeon, unmistakeable if seen well, with large pale blue ocular ring and prominent white wing patches. Occurs in pairs or in small to large groups; mainly seen in trees, tops of cactuses, or in flight. Locally common in desert scrub, dry forests, and mangroves. Voice a very low “cooooo, tuk-tu-kUUuu, tuk-tu-kUUuu,” similar to other pigeons. The only pigeon with white wing patches in arid regions in its range.