Flutist Wren

Dull brown prinia. Largely devoid of eye-catching field marks: gray-brown above and white below with pale eyebrow. Plain Prinia can be very similar, but Jungle averages larger and more thickset, with a heavier bill and weaker eyebrows. Look for this skulker in dry scrubby tangles, often in areas intermixed with boulders. Forages close to the ground. Song is a rollicking, repetitive “ti’li’lew-ti’li’lew-ti’le’lew.” Also gives various chip notes, as well as a loud chatter when agitated.

Small migratory plover. Widespread in New Zealand breeding on braided rivers on both the North and South Islands. Much of the population migrates to overwinter along coastal areas in Australia, but also ventures into freshwater wetlands and grasslands. In breeding plumage, adult has two dark bands on breast, the upper band thin and blackish, the lower band broad and rusty. Nonbreeding birds more difficult to distinguish from other similar plovers: look for pale hindcollar, buff color on face, and two diffuse gray-brown streaks extending onto the breast from near the bend of the wing. This species also has shorter legs and a shorter, thinner bill than Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers.

An active but easily overlooked long-tailed greenbul found in flocks in the understory and along the edges of montane forest. Can be found near ant swarms. Has a relatively long brownish tail, generally olive underparts, olive-green upperparts, a pale throat, and a gray face.  Usually found at higher elevations than other similar greenbuls. Foraging behavior and tendency to move tail and hold it lower than the body are distinctive. Often detected by its harsh chatter, “chuk-chuk-chuk,”  or its bubbling “chuk-CHURR-chrchr” song.