Brownish Elaenia

Medium-sized thornbird with a long tail. Note orange eyes and rufous forehead, throat, and tail while the body is largely brown. Similar to Orange-breasted Thornbird, but has orange rather than dark eyes. Found in pairs on the edge of humid forests, usually near marshes and water bodies where it builds huge stick nests. The song is loud and nasal, usually delivered as a duet.

Very plain, long-tailed cisticola. Even in a group that is known for its drabness, this bird stands out for its lack of bold colors and markings! Found in thick vegetation, usually adjacent a body of water. Song is a complicated duet of which the main elements are a descending series of whistles and a variety of rough, scolding “zhrt” notes. As with all cisticolas, habitat and voice are important cues in identification. Similar to Singing Cisticola, but drabber, lacking rufous on the crown and wing.

A retiring warbler of densely vegetated forest edges, lightly wooded slopes, and clearings in foothill to montane regions; favors areas with thick ground vegetation. Dull and unremarkable to look at; plain brown above and paler brown below, with a white throat and eyebrow. More contrastingly marked than Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler; smaller and stouter than Manchurian and Japanese Bush Warblers. Song is what sets it apart: a sharp note followed by a quick bout of chattering and squeaking.