Silver-rumped Spinetail

Small plump leaf warbler. A “Pallas’s-type” leaf warbler: stout, with a pale rump, crown stripe, and prominent brow stripes. Olive-yellow above with a faint gray wash on the nape. Chinese is distinguished from Pallas’s by its paler, more faded-looking brow and crown stripes, less yellow suffusion all over the body, less compact appearance, and less obvious or absent upper wingbar. Extremely similar Gansu Leaf Warbler and Lemon-rumped Warbler can be difficult to separate; note Chinese’s slightly more elongated and less rounded appearance, a lack of a distinct hook under the end of the brow stripe, less contrasting and more yellowish head patterning, and paler yellowish secondaries. Forages actively, often hovering and hopping about at mid-level. Breeds in montane broadleaved deciduous or mixed forest; moves to lower elevations in winter. On average, found at lower altitudes than Lemon-rumped and Gansu. Lengthy song is unique and bizarre, with a twanging, grating quality: “btrichi-btrichi-btrichi.” Call is an explosive “wip!”, often repeated in medium-length series on the breeding grounds.

Small woodpecker with a green back and a finely speckled face without strong markings. The crown is entirely red in males and red-and-black in females. There is striking geographical variation. In most of East Africa, the underparts are spotted, while in the western two-thirds of the range, the underparts are barred. Found in forest, edge habitat and clearings, and lush woodland. Generally uncommon and inconspicuous. The call is an arresting “ka-reek,” sometimes repeated several times. Spotted birds are separated from other woodpeckers by their lack of strong facial markings. Barred birds are distinctive within their range.

Medium-sized tanager found in the middle to upper levels of forest edges, light woodlands, plantations, and urban parks; sometimes visits feeding stations. Males are glossy black with a concealed red crown and a white spot on the shoulder. In flight, shows white underwings. Females have a gray-brown head and are otherwise mostly cinnamon colored, paler below than above.