Tongan Whistler

A brightly-colored bird of dense evergreen forests, usually seen perched quietly on a mid-story perch. Varies in coloration throughout its range but always follows the same general color scheme: male has a dark red head and belly, a brown back, and barred black-and-white wings. Female has a more faded-red belly and a brown head. Both sexes, when seen from below, have a sharply contrasting and graduated black-and-white tail pattern. Sluggish and typically stationary and difficult to see; listen for its high-pitched gulping hoots. 

Uncommon, sandy-colored babbler of dry scrubby and weedy areas, often on hill- and mountain-sides. Readily distinguished from other brown birds in its range by its long tail, thickset appearance, pale brow, and faint dark streaking on the back. Looks like a faded version of the closely related Beijing Babbler (no range overlap). Forages on or close to the ground, often in small flocks. Varied repertoire includes a loud jumbled series of bright warbling calls, as well as bulbul-like chattering and high rattling twittering. Restricted to northwestern China.

A nondescript robin; males are primarily black with chestnut bottom feathers, although males in the northern population have brownish upperparts. Males also have a white shoulder patch and a relatively long tail. Females have completely brown upperparts, lack the male’s white shoulder patch, and have grayish-brown underparts. They are generally seen in pairs, foraging on the ground with the tail cocked up. Found in open country, at forest edges, around human habitation, and in scrub lands.