Vietnamese Cutia

A relatively large-billed shrike-like bird primarily found in lowland forest canopy. Male is white below and iridescent black above except for a white rump. The female is overall reddish brown, with more reddish wings and a grayish hood. Similar to several bicolored shrikelike birds in the region, but note Sabine’s Puffback’s large bill, striking sexual dimorphism, and unique song, which consists of a distinctive series of long whistles descending in pitch before arriving at a single repeated pitch, growing louder, and then ending suddenly. Songs can sometimes last several minutes, and are more reminiscent of some Yellow Longbill songs than of the songs of other puffbacks. Calls include typical puffback-like rattles and harsh calls. 

A typical red-eyed masked-weaver with a plain olive-green back and pink-brown legs. The breeding male has a black face mask extending midway up the forehead, surrounded by a strong burnt-orange wash that spreads to the breast and flanks. Female and juvenile are duller, but their breasts are tinged orange-yellow, flanks brown, and bellies white. Pairs and colonies are localized residents of reedbeds, wetlands, and adjacent woodland, in a very narrow global range between southwestern Tanzania and the Saisi River in northeastern Zambia. The ranges of most similar masked-weavers do not overlap, but breeding male Katanga and Southern Masked-Weavers are yellower than Tanganyika, lacking chestnut tones, and breeding male Lake Lufira Masked-Weaver has black mask extending past the hind-crown, and strong chestnut underparts.

Small brownish wren now found only on Dominica; formerly also occurred on Guadeloupe and Martinique. Plumage cinnamon-brown overall, with dark barring on the wings and tail. Lacks white eyebrow. Generally more arboreal than mainland “House Wrens”, occurring in dense brushy woodland throughout the island. Often perches conspicuously when singing, but otherwise fairly secretive. Listen for loud song of chatters and clearer trills, as well as harsh scolding calls.