Visayan Shama

Typical black, white, and dark-gray batis. Note the chest band, which is black in males and rufous in females. The cap is dark gray, and there is a long eyebrow that is white in males and buff in females. Found in all types of savanna, ranging from moist Guinea savanna to dry thorn savanna. Often in pairs. Male very similar to male Gray-headed and Western Black-headed Batises, but has a broader eyebrow stripe, and is usually associated with the distinctive female. The song is more variable, quieter, and less distinctive than that of most batises; usually includes a combination of buzzing notes and higher whistled “kreit” notes, and sometimes also wing and bill snaps. 

Small sparrow with a short tail found in grasslands including agricultural areas with grassy edges. Brownish gray above with heavy dark streaks and brownish wings, and plain gray-buff below. Note the short yellow eyebrow that does not reach beyond the eye. Usually sings a series of soft buzzy whistles from fence posts or shrubs.

A bulky bird of tepui highlands, often encountered in groups. Unlikely to be confused within its limited range; plumage mostly coppery-olive (may tend toward yellow in sunlight) with a contrasting gray face and throat. Stout bill is silvery gray. Occurs in canopy of tepui highland forest, generally above 800 m, where groups forage noisily through vegetation, probing into epiphytes and dead leaves and hopping clumsily along branches, eating whatever is in their path. Frequents fruiting trees, and may join mixed-species flocks but are just as likely to be found away from them. Most typical call is a dreadful high-pitched screech, modulated as if the bird is being squeezed, and sounding quite literally like fingernails on a chalkboard.