Dusky Turtle-Dove

Chunky little bird of open landscapes; often sits on exposed perches. Breeding male has a black head, broad white half-collar, and rusty-red chest. Non-breeding male is patchier, with a paler head and chest. Female is predominantly streaky brown above, with a weaker, less contrasting face and chest pattern. European Stonechat is very similar, and can pose identification problems where the species overlap; look for Siberian’s larger white wing patch, duller orange on the chest, and whiter rump. Amur Stonechat is extremely similar, and in areas of overlap, or in cases of vagrancy, most individuals are inseparable based on current knowledge.

Large, black-and-white puffbird with a brown breast patch. In addition to its brown band, note the lack of a white eyebrow, present in other black-and-white puffbirds. Found mainly in forests with sandy or rocky soil, often with stunted vegetation. In some parts of its range, it is also found in mature upland rainforest. Its song is a long, rising series of whistles, followed by a slowly descending series of stuttered whistles “wi wi woo, wi wi woo, …”.

A tiny kingfisher of lowland forests, often near streams. Overall orange, brighter on the underparts and face, with bright red bill and legs, a white throat, belly, and mark behind the cheek, and black stripes down the side of the back. Note the pinkish-purple tinge to the head and chest. Birds on Luzon have a darker wing and a bluish ear. Somewhat similar to Dimorphic Dwarf-Kingfisher, especially when seen from the front or below, but Philippine lacks the bright blue head and back. Voice is a rather sharp, high-pitched note, “tsreek.”