Sunda Brush Cuckoo

A large, fierce-eyed prinia with a long, oft-cocked tail. Breeding adults have a gray head, white throat and brow, brown upperparts, and pale, brown-washed underparts. Nonbreeding adults lack the gray but retain the white brow and throat. May be confused at a distance with Yellow-bellied Prinia, but is much larger, and has a more extensive brow and no bright yellow anywhere on the body. Usually found in open, scrubby habitats, including overgrown fields and forest edges. Loud, strident song consists of one high liquid-sounding note being repeated over and over.

Very similar to Red-winged Blackbird. Male entirely glossy black with red shoulder patch bordered by white, not yellow. Female dark brown and streaky, larger and darker than any sparrow. Lacks warm tones to plumage, unlike female Red-winged Blackbird. For both sexes, note relatively thin, sharp bill. Found in marshes and adjacent fields; breeds in colonies. Undergoing significant population decline due to habitat loss. Song is nasal and low-pitched, not as complex or as musical as Red-winged.

Uncommon within restricted range of the Magdalena Valley of central Colombia, from around 200 to 1,000 m. Occurs in open woodlands. Males are dark steely-blue above and rich yellow below, with a yellow forecrown. Note entirely dark throat and dark underside of tail. Female is dull grayish olive above and yellow below. Note yellow forecrown on female. Could be confused with Orange-bellied Euphonia; male Orange-bellied has white underside of tail and females are grayer below.