Abyssinian Thrush

Eye-catching medium-sized bulbul, endemic to Java, Sumatra, and Bali, where it inhabits open wooded habitats. Combination of jet-black head, golden-yellow body, and blood-red throat make this species unmistakable. Small crest is often raised, giving the bird a comical triangular-headed appearance. Adults have bright red eyes, whereas juveniles have pale ones. Song is a rather quiet and mellow “wee-dih’deedee!” Unfortunately declining in many areas as a result of the cagebird trade, and is now fairly localized, despite its ability to live in scrubby and degraded areas.

A small, pretty member of the pipit family. Note the yellow underparts, the breast band of black streaks, and the scaly brown upperparts. Males and females are similar, but females are duller. The white edges of the tail are conspicuous in weak, fluttering flight. Found on the ground in montane grassland, often in wet areas. Similar to Yellow-throated Longclaw, but there is little overlap in range, and Sharpe’s is separated by being much smaller and having a streaky rather than solid black breast band. Brownish immatures can be confused with pipits, but show some pale yellow below. The song is a series of musical whistles in an up-and-down pattern, given from a perch or in flight. The calls include a sharp “siit” and a longer, metallic “chweee.” 

Rotund brown bird of lowland rainforest understory. Reddish brown with small gray spots. Males have a dull red and gray facial pattern. Usually found in groups, but occasionally encountered singly or in pairs. Secretive and hard to see, but occasionally encountered foraging on the ground or flushing underfoot. Frequently heard after dusk and more rarely just before dawn, when pairs or groups sing in symphony, a series of continuous low caroling notes.