Striped Sparrow

Fancy-looking, vaguely chicken-like bird of freshwater marshes, lakes, and ponds in tropical lowlands, locally in highlands. Walks with high-stepping gait, often on top of floating vegetation (note its very long toes!). Adult is chestnut overall with black head and neck; immature looks very different, with creamy-white face, neck, and underparts. Bright yellow wings striking in flight, when birds usually give shrieks and other raucous calls. Flies with stiff wingbeats and glides, the long feet trailing out behind.

A small, dark forest hornbill found predominantly in primary forest subcanopy, where it prefers areas with abundant vines. This species is unique in its overall dark coloration and its broad white eyebrow that extends to the back of the head. The only similarly-sized forest hornbill in its range is the more reddish Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, but Western Dwarf Hornbill has a less well-defined border between the dark chest and white belly, and only Western Dwarf Hornbill has the broad white eyebrow behind the eye. Voice is a repetitive “yep yep yep yep” that can be repeated at length, sometimes accompanied with a howl.

Flashy black-and-yellow oriole of humid tropical lowlands. Favors tangles and thickets along rivers and near water, also overgrown fields. Usually in pairs, often rather skulking. Both sexes have black back and wings with a big yellow shoulder bar, black tail with yellow sides that flash in flight. Immature has same pattern but duller, with a greenish back. Rich whistled song has a rollicking, rhythmic cadence.