Australasian Bittern

Small, ornate parrotbill with a pale belly and a long gray eyebrow. Orange overall with dark wing panels and a variable amount of white on the face. Central Chinese birds have a white face patch, while southern Chinese and Himalayan birds are limited to a short and largely unnoticeable white stripe under the cheek. Moves in large flocks through bamboo stands in coniferous and mixed foothill and montane forests. Lacks the dark throat of Black-throated and Golden Parrotbills.

This medium-large plover is often locally abundant, noisy, and easy to identify. Its plumage is a striking combination of black, white, and brown. It is very vocal, producing a piercing and repeated “sik-sik-sik…” call. It is found around wetlands, but also away from water in cultivated areas and even suburbia and urban settings. It forages mainly for arthropods, but also small reptiles and amphibians. Lays its eggs on the ground, and is often very aggressive against invaders to its territory, be it a crow or a falcon. Also active at night.

Secretive, found in montane thickets and scrub, typically in or near forests. Usually solitary and rarely found in mixed feeding flocks. Soft gray of body and head contrast sharply with olive-green back and wings. It is similar to White-winged Warbler, but is gray rather than white below, has red eyes, and lacks white on the tail and wings. Song is a series of loud, sharp “tsip” notes. Calls include loud squeaky notes and raspy scolds.