Bradfield's Swift

Small, short-tailed antwren of rainforest understory. Forages low to the ground in undergrowth of mature rainforest, often around tree fall gaps. Males are even gray with white spots on the wings and tail; females are brown above and reddish buff below with tan spots on the wings and tail. Listen for a slightly accelerating series of raspy, rising whistles given at a pace of about one note every second.

A cute and striking gray, white, and black flycatcher-like bird with a yellow eye, white wingbars, and a white spot above the bill base. Sexes differ: male’s chest band is black and female’s is chestnut. Pairs hunt for insects, sometimes joining flocks, in woodland, dry forest, and dense thickets. Calls include a series of 15–20 clear high-pitched “seeet” notes that slowly descend, and a typical batis churring and croaking. Male Angola Batis looks almost identical to male Chinspot Batis, but the latter prefers drier savanna habitat and calls differently; female Chinspot has a distinctive brown spot on the chin; the larger Black-headed Batis has a complete eyebrow.

Small and unique gem-like pitta of Borneo’s lowland dipterocarp forests—both pristine and logged. Male’s glowing electric-blue crown is eye-catching even in the gloom of the forest floor; also note dark blue underparts, bright white throat, and cinnamon-brown back. Female has a warm cinnamon head and paler brown underparts. Both sexes have dark wings marked with a white streak. Song is a mellow “puh-yih’wooooo!”.