Greater Swamp Warbler
Acrocephalus rufescens
Large, nondescript, long-tailed, long-billed wetland warbler. Primary habitat is papyrus swamp, though sometimes uses other types of reedbeds and wet scrub. Quite shy and secretive. Sings frequently, a slow and low-pitched mix of both rasping notes and more musical notes that ends in a trill. Similar to Lesser Swamp Warbler, but larger and longer-billed, lacking a pale eye-stripe. Also similar to Great Reed Warbler, but shorter-winged, darker, and grayer, without an eye-stripe.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Acrocephalus rufescens
- Authority
- (Sharpe & Bouvier, 1877)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Acrocephalidae
- Genus
- Acrocephalus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Field Sparrow
Spizella pusilla
Small, slender, blank-faced sparrow. Can be either gray or buffy overall, but always note small pink bill, plain face, and thin white eyering. Inhabits overgrown fields and other brushy areas in eastern North America. Often joins flocks of sparrows in winter. Can visit feeders, but less frequently than Chipping or American Tree sparrows. Song is a series of bell-like notes, accelerating like a dropped ping-pong ball.

Tibetan Babax
Pterorhinus koslowi
A russet-brown babbler with pale eyes and a slightly curved black bill. Endemic to the eastern end of the Tibetan Plateau, where it inhabits areas with scrubby bushes and stunted trees. Generally, not as often seen around habitation as the larger, grayer Giant Babax (no range overlap), but will sometimes be seen taking handouts at monasteries. Forages on the ground, usually in pairs or small flocks.

Black-rumped Flameback
Dinopium benghalense
A common, “small-billed” golden-backed woodpecker with four toes. Endemic to the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. Associated with every lowland wooded habitat except dense tropical forest, it often follows degradation into higher elevations. Separated from all other flamebacks except Red-backed by dark throat, lack of a contrasting black horizontal stripe below the cheek, and four toes. Separated from Red-backed by golden back and black shoulder. Often detected by its loud “ki-ki-ki-ki-ki,” which steadily increases in pace and ends in a trill.
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