Sumatran Laughingthrush

Very small, active forest bird, rather plump and short-tailed. Male is blackish with obvious white flank and white spotting on wing. Female is pale grayish-brown with buffy spotting on wing; white flanks are usually still obvious. Typically found in pairs, often following a mixed-species flock through the forest, foraging among dead leaf clusters and tangles. Stays at lower or middle levels.

Stocky brown wader with bright red legs; compare with slenderer, far more gracile Spotted Redshank in juvenile and non-breeding plumage. Often rather wary, alerting other birds with its loud, fluty, whistled calls. Bobs tail when nervous, and then flies to show flashy white trailing edge to wings, white rump patch. Feeds in muddy shallows, probing and picking with its bill. Inhabits fresh and coastal wetlands; also breeds on moorland, usually near water.

Skulking and generally inconspicuous brown bird of humid tropical forest. Found as singles or pairs, clambering in vine tangles or other dense understory, at times in leaf litter on the forest floor; usually difficult to see clearly. Note the rich buffy throat, broad eyebrow, and the dark rusty tail on an otherwise dark brownish bird. Loud song is a repeated, churring rattle, given from middle level perches inside the forest.