White-crowned Wheatear

A large laughingthrush with a heavy black bill. Note black mask on face, yellow throat, and reddish belly. Similar to Yellow-throated Laughingthrush, but Rufous-vented Laughingthrush is bigger and darker above, with contrastingly pale feet. Extremely shy and skulking, it often moves in flocks of ten or more birds, foraging in thick undergrowth and on the ground in evergreen forests. Calls include sweet whistles and chattering.

Elegant, robin-like bird with a long tail. Males are bluish-black and white. Females are brown and buff. Both sexes show a white slash in the wing. There is regional variation: western birds have white in the tail and more white in the wing; northeastern males have a black belly. Common Madagascar endemic that is found in the understory of all forest types, as well as in scrub, plantations, and gardens. Pretty song is a conversational phrase of whistles, whines, and rattles. Much larger than African Stonechat, and usually doesn’t sit in the open. Females separated from female rock-thrushes by their white wing patch. 

Chunky, dark gray bird with a dark face. Dark face patch is more extensive on males than females; males on Sumatra have entirely black heads. Inhabits moist foothill and montane forest. Moves through the upper levels of forest, often with other species in mixed flocks. Gives various high squeaky calls, including an inflected “weee-tee!”.