Purple-breasted Sunbird

A big, robust, rather colorful rail. The olive-green back, reddish underparts, and white throat are distinctive. Much less shy than typical rails, and sometimes quite tame. Found on the ground in forest, mangroves, moist scrub, marsh, and rice paddies. Quite vocal; most common call is a very loud, ringing series of rising “schweeet” notes. Larger than wood-rails, with a longer bill and a much larger white throat patch. Also larger than Madagascar Rail, with brighter coloration. 

Medium-sized scops-owl with prominent ear tufts and dark eyes. Coloration variable, ranging from gray to brown, but dark eyes, thin black border around the facial disc, and lightly streaked underparts remain constant. Gives bouncy amphibian-like barks at changing intervals. Inhabits forests, forest edges, parks, and gardens from lowlands up into foothill and montane regions.

Utterly unmistakable orange bird with a zebra-striped wings, a Chinese fan of a crest (usually held closed, but often raised just after landing), and a rapier of a bill. Favors semiopen habitats such as heathland, farmland, orchards, grassy lawns, where it feeds on the ground, probing with its long bill for insects. Flight fast and fairly direct, with rather deep wingbeats. Unlikely to be confused, but flight pattern and round wings may loosely resemble that of woodpeckers; note far longer and thinner bill. Song is a distinctive “hoopoopoo.”