Marañon Gnatcatcher

Brightly-colored barbet restricted to the Annamite Range of southern Vietnam and southeastern Laos, where it inhabits hill and montane forests. Like other barbets, often sticks close to dense foliage in the canopy, where it can be difficult to see; listen instead for its echoing hiccuping song, which has a frog-like quality. If seen well, note the leaf-green body, thick black mask and “eyebrow”, red forehead, and bright yellow throat and crown. Namesake “necklace” consists of a thin black line across the throat which can be difficult to see. Very similar to closely-related Golden-throated Barbet, but ranges do not overlap.

Large pale cuckoo, which lacks the warmer tones of both Fan-tailed and Brush cuckoos. Yellow eyering, and a dark indistinct stripe across the cheek. Has a distinctive call that has several notes, and tends to perch in prominent places or fence-posts while calling.

A medium-sized bird with a hooked bill of montane forest. Male is all black and female dull brown. Forages singly or in pairs at all levels in the forest, looking for insects. Male somewhat similar to Drongo Fantail, but Black Pitohui male has more horizontal posture and lacks the flat head. Similar to MacGregor’s Bowerbird female, but female Black Pitohui is smaller, with a hooked bill. Voice, a slow, rising “pooiii!”, a quicker rising “whip-whip-whip…” sometimes speaded up into a trill, and also a forceful, downward “tiiaoo!”.