Saffron-cowled Blackbird

A chunky, mid-sized, remarkably drab babbler with a white throat and grayish breast. Found in the understory of moist forest at low and middle elevations, usually in small groups. Shy and skulking; rarely seen unless searched for. Similar to African Hill Babbler, but distinguished by the paler brown-and-white rather than solidly gray head. Most often detected by voice. The male gives two sweet whistles in a rising pattern: “troo-tyeah”, usually accompanied by quiet chittering calls from other group members.

Male very similar in appearance to Daurian Redstart; note more restricted silver on the forehead and less distinct wing panel. Female’s lack of a white wing patch distinguishes her from female Daurian, and she averages paler than female Black Redstart, with a brighter eye-ring. Blue-fronted Redstart female can be similar; Hodgson’s female is colder-toned with a single dark stripe down the tail instead of Blue-fronted’s inverted “T.” Hodgson’s breeds in hilly and montane open forests and forest edge; descends in the winter, favoring scrubby edge.

Tiny woodpecker of lowland and foothill rainforest east of the Andes. Both sexes have pale yellow underparts with extensive black barring (lacking any speckles or vertical streaks), golden-brown back, and black crown with white spots. Male additionally has red or yellow spots of forehead. Usually found in clearings or at forest edge, tapping incessantly at small branches as it tries to extract small insects.