Black-faced Laughingthrush
Trochalopteron affine
Shy, beautifully patterned laughinghtrush of mid to high elevations. Note bold black-and-white head pattern, golden wing and tail panels, and mostly unmarked brown on the rest of the body. Typically found as pairs during the breeding season and small groups in the winter, in the dense undergrowth of hill and mountain forests. Song like many other laughingthrushes, one to three inflected or quavering whistles. Calls include churring, rattling, and slurred squeaking.
Identification
The black-faced laughingthrush (Trochalopteron affine) is a bird species in the family Leiothrichidae. It is found in the Eastern Himalayas. Its range extends from eastern Nepal eastwards to Arunachal Pradesh in India and further to Myanmar, along with Bhutan and southeastern Tibet. Small disjunct populations also exist in continental Southeast Asia.
Taxonomy
Genus: Trochalopteron; Family: Leiothrichidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Trochalopteron affine
- Authority
- (Blyth, 1843)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Leiothrichidae
- Genus
- Trochalopteron
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
Migration pattern: Vertical migration.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Cape Verde Swift
Apus alexandri
Small endemic swift of Cape Verde. Smaller and more gray-brown compared to other swifts, with prominent whitish throat patch. Note shallow forked tail. Flight faster and more fluttering than Common Swift and the closely-related Plain Swift. Calls very similar to Common Swift, but slightly higher-pitched.

Siberian House-Martin
Delichon lagopodum
Distinctive small swallow with blue-black upperparts, a very large white rump patch, and snow-white underparts. Juvenile in late summer and autumn is duller above and dingier below than adult. Very similar to Asian House-Martin, but note white rump patch extending further up back, brighter white underparts, and slightly larger size. Compare also with other swallows and House Swift; note the relatively shallowly forked and streamerless tail, fluttery flight, and clean white underparts. In west of range, overlaps with very similar Western House-Martin (formerly treated as one species); note present species’ significantly larger rump patch. Breeds colonially, frequently building mud nests under the eaves of buildings; forages over varied open and semi-open habitats, especially water bodies and adjacent fields. Gives a soft burbling trill.

Biak Scops-Owl
Otus beccarii
A small owl endemic to a variety of forests on Biak Island. Dark plumage, paler belly with fine barring and white lines from the shoulder. Gray-brown or tawny morphs occur. Yellow eyes surrounded by black patches, and a pale gray face surrounded by a black ring. Not particularly uncommon but difficult to see. Feeds on insects. It is the only owl species on Biak. Fairly vocal. Call, a low, croaking “raaag!”.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.