Golden-chevroned Tanager

A large hawk with a confusing range and unclear identification criteria. Resident in the Himalayas and a breeder in adjacent areas of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. A large “typical” buzzard, brown overall with blotchy patterning on the breast, dark upper “trousers,” and dark “elbows” and trailing edge on the underwing. Juvenile streakier below with a more finely barred tail and paler trailing edge. Compare with extremely similar Upland and Eastern Buzzards; note less eagle-like proportions than Upland, as well as marginally darker “trousers” and more prominent trailing edge than Eastern.

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.

A fairly small owl of lowland and foothill forest and edge. Brown on the head and upperparts with a slight speckled effect, and whitish below with thick reddish-brown streaks. Note bright yellow eyes and long whiskers around the face. Similar to Chocolate Boobook, but Luzon is much smaller and lacks any white on the chest. Voice includes a single short, descending “boo!” repeated at intervals, and a short phrase “boo! wup-wup boo!”