White-bellied Pygmy-Tyrant

A russet-brown babbler with pale eyes and a slightly curved black bill. Endemic to the eastern end of the Tibetan Plateau, where it inhabits areas with scrubby bushes and stunted trees. Generally, not as often seen around habitation as the larger, grayer Giant Babax (no range overlap), but will sometimes be seen taking handouts at monasteries. Forages on the ground, usually in pairs or small flocks.

Small. Olive-green above and banana-yellow below and on throat. Chest smudged olive. Has a bold white eye-ring and a black patch on the face from the eye forward. Found in most forest, scrub, and garden habitats. Song consists of around nine up- or downslurred notes. Call is a strong, two-syllabled “che-u.”

A small, stocky, pale brown bird with a fairly heavy bill. Unlike other bushlarks, breast streaking is minimal and often only restricted to the sides of the breast, while the wings are not as rust-colored. The pale eyebrow is well marked and typically extends neatly down around the cheeks. There is subtle though considerable geographic variation over the huge range. The overall coloration can vary from dark gray-brown to rich rufous-brown to pale sandy, and the amount and clarity of streaking on the breast also varies. Found in dry, open plains, agricultural areas, open shrubland, and grassland. The song is varied and complex, and includes whistles, trills, buzzes, metallic notes, and sometimes imitations of other bird species. The song can be given from a perch or on the wing. Forages on the ground, where it can be hard to detect until very close; gives a loud chip as it flushes. Similar to Indian Bushlark, but Singing Bushlark has a white outermost tail feather, appears drabber overall, and looks chunkier. Larger-billed but smaller overall than Eurasian and Oriental Skylarks, and averages more darkly streaked on the back.