Black Harrier

Adorable tiny bird that loosely resembles a minute tailless wren. Warm dark brown above with rufous overtones, and scaled below; pale-morph birds have white edgings to black “scales,” while dark-morph birds have edgings that are coffee-stain tan. Smaller Pygmy Cupwing lacks the tan spots speckling the crown and neck of Scaly-breasted. Scaly-breasted inhabits dark, damp areas in dense forest, often around boulders, streams, and ravines. Song is a jumbled series of high-pitched melodic warbles, notably more complex than the song of Pygmy Cupwing.

Bizarre-looking bird, now very rare due to poaching for the ivory-like material of its bill. When perched, its most recognizable feature is the naked throat pouch which resembles an undercooked steak, chalky white in the female and dull scarlet in the male. When in flight, its long trailing central tail feathers easily distinguish it from any other hornbill. Scarce and difficult to see; listen for its far-carrying maniacal laugh in mature lowland and foothill forests.

One of many flowerpeckers in which the male is brightly-colored and the female is predominantly brown. Adult male is black and white from below, but above it is bright red from the crown down to the rump. The female, while largely dull, can be distinguished from other flowerpeckers by her bright red rump that is often visible when hovering and foraging. Juvenile lacks the red rump, but has a white throat and is a much darker brown above than the similar Plain Flowerpecker. A lowland species, often found in gardens with flowering and fruiting plants, particularly mistletoe. Often detected through its metallic ticking calls.