Rusty-browed Warbling Finch

Small, stocky brown terrestrial bird with a relatively short tail. Note stout bill with slightly downcurved upper edge; also streaky back, speckled chest, buffy-pale underparts, and rufous panel in the wing. May be confused with other bushlarks with which it overlaps in range; averages darker, with less contrast between upperparts and underparts. Inhabits open plains and fields, sometimes with scattered shrubs and bushes. Gives buzzy repetitive song in flight, on the ground, or from a perch.

Medium-sized wren, familiar and fairly common in eastern North America. Fairly bright rufous above and unmarked buffy below with a bold white eyebrow. Tail is often cocked up. Disjunct population on the Yucatán peninsula is duller brown. Superficially similar to Bewick’s Wren but much brighter and slightly shorter-tailed. Usually hides in dense thickets and hedgerows, often close to human habitation. Occasionally visits feeders, especially for suet or mealworms. Listen for loud, ringing song and variety of harsh scolding calls.

Uncommon dark swiftlet. Endemic to a smattering of the Philippines islands, from Luzon to Mindanao to Palawan. Habitat can be helpful in identifying this confusing species; generally favors ridges and slopes in montane and submontane areas above 700-800 meters. Readily confused with significantly larger Ameline Swiftlet, but present species has a more squared-off-looking tail (fork is shallow and often unnoticeable), tends to fly lower and more erratically, and more often forms flocks. Combination of dark rump, unglossed dark back, and medium size separates this species from Gray-rumped Swiftlet, Pygmy Swiftlet, and Ridgetop Swiftlet. Frequently calls while in flight, giving a squeaky chattering twitter.