Red-tailed Minla

A cute, dumpy, colorful flycatcher-like bird that flits around in the mid-canopy and understory of forest, forest edge, thickets, and gardens. There is a chestnut stripe across the top of the closed wing of both sexes. Males have a broad black chest band, yellow eye, and white throat. Females have a reddish eye and brown chin patch. The song is a series of 8-9 plaintive steady piping “peooop” notes, and calls include buzzing grating “ddrz-drrzt-drrr, ddt-ddzt-drzt-drr”. Distinguished from other batises in its range by the chestnut stripe through the wings.

A typical pitta: plump, short-tailed, long-legged, and primarily terrestrial (sometimes perches up to call). Bright green above with electric blue shoulder patch and rump and black head with conspicuous pale brow. Underside golden-buff with black and bright red on the belly. Plumage varies geographically, with forms varying in eyebrow, throat color (white or black), and extent of red and black on belly. Juvenile duller, with little blue in wing, an orange-tipped bill, and a pinkish belly. Inhabits woodland, forest, scrub, and plantations in lowlands and hills; some populations migratory. Sometimes arboreal when calling. Voice varies throughout range; generally a variation on “wit-wit-deer” or “werwer-dew!”

Chunky mid-sized parrot that is mostly gray with blue underparts. Note the yellow shoulder patches and blue rump, which are conspicuous in flight. Found in arid savanna, especially in the lusher woodland along riverbeds. Usually in pairs or small flocks. Calls are variable high-pitched squeals. Similar to Meyer’s Parrot, but has blue underparts and a gray base color, and never shows yellow on the head.