Cinnamon-browed Melidectes

A large woodpecker of forest with a dense understory from the lowlands to the lower mountains in the southern Philippines. Orange to reddish on the back, and dark below with heavy cream-colored spotting. Neck is spotted with buff. Note the crown sloping to an angular crest, which is bright red in males and orange with spots in the female. Unmistakable. The only other similarly sized woodpecker in range is Southern Sooty-Woodpecker, which is entirely dark. Voice includes a loud, metallic rattling trill.

A common, widespread resident across Asia and Africa. Adult males have a reddish iris, blue gray upperparts and fine brownish-orange barring on underparts. Females have a yellowish iris and brownish gray upperparts. Both have narrow dark barring on the tail. Juveniles are browner with a prominent moustachial stripe and streaked underparts. It hunts for a wide variety of prey in woodland, savannah, and even suburban gardens, dashing out from perches within vegetation to grab its prey.

Heavily-built gray raptor with orange barring on chest and belly. When soaring, tail-tip is usually rounded. At a distance, appears pale gray from below, with darker wing-tips. When perched, look for heavy brow, large bill, and heavy legs. Immature has dark streaks on chest. Relatively common; pairs often circle high in the sky.