Blue-gray Noddy

Brightly-colored male is unmistakable with his black mask, sky-blue head, and orange rump and underparts. Female is gray-brown with scaled underparts and faint white eye crescents; similar to larger female Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush, but lacks prominent white “ear crescents”, has less densely-patterned underparts, and averages paler overall. Breeds in hilly and montane areas, particularly open dry forests and rocky slopes with scattered trees. Descends in the winter; favors secondary forests and plantations. Forages in trees and on the ground; often searches for prey from snags or telephone wires. Moves with mixed-species flocks in the winter.

Fairly stocky, sparrowlike bird endemic to highland forests. Occurs mainly in fir and humid pine-oak forest understory, often in brushy flower banks and shady canyons, where typically skulking and difficult to see well. Feeds on and near the ground, usually in pairs. White throat stands out in shady understory, but green head stripes can be difficult to see. Range does not overlap rather similar Chestnut-capped Brushfinch.

This relatively short-tailed paradise-flycatcher is often found near forest edges and around villages and towns in gardens. Both sexes have gray heads and undersides with blue bills and blue eye-rings, as well as a red back, red wings, red tail, and most importantly, a red vent. Males are similar to females but have longer central tail feathers and darker glossy black heads. Similar to Bates’s Paradise-Flycatcher, but Rufous-vented Paradise-Flycatcher males have longer central tail feathers and darker heads with a more prominent crest. Some individuals are best left unidentified. Songs are similar to those of other paradise-flycatchers, consisting of repeated, whiny whistles “two-two-TEE-TEE-two-two-ter” or clearer “tweer-tweer-tweer” sounds, with variations in pitch and number of notes. Calls include whiny, rasping “heh” notes as well as other chatters and dry trills.