Oriole Cuckooshrike

A mostly gray-and-buff barred waxbill with a crimson ‘bandit’s’ eye-patch and black tail and rump. A predominantly gray waxbill with buff-washed underparts and fine barring all over the body, as well as a crimson “bandit’s” eye-patch and black tail and rump. Bill is black, but has a red base during the breeding season. Female is darker below than the male, with a duller eye-patch. Juvenile is browner, less barred and has a dark eye-patch. A fairly common resident of riverine scrub, thickets on hillsides, waterside vegetation and agricultural cereal fields; typically forages in pairs and flocks. Calls a nasal “dzeet” often in concert with others, and a loud buzzing. Only waxbill with a red eye-patch on the Arabian Peninsula.

A medium-sized, uniformly black starling with a glossy purplish-bluish sheen and a short tail. Bill is relatively thick and stubby. Arrow-shaped throat feathers are often puffed out. Eye pale orange. Juvenile resembles adult, but dustier in color, with a gray eye. Prefers forest edge; less common inside forest and open areas. Very similar to Singing Starling, but distinguished by pale eye, shorter tail, and lack of dark streaks on belly of juvenile. Song consists of metallic warbling. Common call is a metallic “chink.”

Typical of rosefinches, the male is brightly colored and the female is streaky brown. Male is pink with a pale brow, lightly spangled cheeks, and sandy brown back and wings. Female is dull brown with streaking on the back and on the undersides. Inhabits middle to high elevation montane and hill forests, primarily in coniferous patches. Descends into open edges, village outskirts, and gardens in the winter. Calls are wheezy, somewhat plaintive buzzes; song is a jumbled series of call notes and whistles.