Banded Prinia

A medium-sized bird of mossy montane forest understory on Mindanao. Large for a flycatcher. Dark brown above, with pale gray-brown chest and sides and a white throat and belly. Note the white spectacles and forehead with a thin black eye-ring and black line connecting the eye and bill. Somewhat similar to Chestnut-tailed Flycatcher, but found at higher elevations and has obvious black-and-white lines in front of the eye. Voice includes high-pitched metallic whistles and a sharp “tsik!”

A handsome apalis of forest and forest edge that is often found singly or in pairs. White underparts are bisected by a neat black chest band that is more noticeable in males than in females. Upperparts are yellow-green with a dark black cap and sides of head. Tail often held slightly cocked. Persistent song is a trill of varying length, often given as a duet with another bird doing shorter trills or repeated “tik tik tik” calls.

A medium-sized bird of lowland and foothill forest. Gray on the crown and back, with black feathers in the edge of the wing and a black tail with white corners. Male has a black forehead, face, and chest, and female has gray underparts. Races differ, with southern birds having paler bellies. Female is similar to female Blackish Cuckooshrike, but Black-bibbed has a stouter bill and a paler belly. Voice includes a sharp “wek!” and a downslurred whistle repeated at short intervals.