Black-headed Siskin

Handsome and unmistakable thrush. Male is gray overall, whereas female is suffused with rusty cinnamon-brown. On both sexes, note prominent black bib, slender black mask which wraps around the back of the head, and black wingtips. Endemic to Borneo’s highlands, where it wanders nomadically through submontane and montane forests in search of fruiting trees. Often encountered in pairs or small groups, foraging at middle and lower storeys of forest. Generally quiet; gives high thin “tsiiiii.”

Fairly common in humid tropical lowlands. Favors evergreen forest edges, plantations, and verdant second growth, such as areas along roadsides. Forages mainly at low to middle levels often in fairly noisy small groups. Male is unmistakable if seen clearly: velvety black with a blinding scarlet rump. Female is very different: note distinctive bluish-white bill, tawny rump, and grayish head. Formerly known as Cherrie's Tanager and Passerini's Tanager.

Plump bicolored bird with long gray legs. Brown above and light gray below, with an orange-red head, a white throat, and a white eye-ring. Found in the understory of dense montane forest. Listen for a breathy two-noted whistle, the second note slightly higher than the first: “hoo, hoot?”