Blackcap Illadopsis

A small, dark songster of montane rainforest floor and undergrowth on Borneo. Male is overall dark indigo-blue with an indistinct, often concealed white eyebrow. Female has chestnut underparts, face and rump, duller chestnut-brown crown, wings and tail, with slaty-gray back, shoulders and sides. Forages on the ground where it usually stays hidden but also known to hop around rocks above the treeline. More often heard than seen. Song is an atmospheric, up-and-down series of long, metallic notes. Call, a sharp “click!”

A distinctive small cuckooshrike with bright white underbody, a dusky gray upperside, and a prominent red eye. Males display a contrasting black face and chin, while females’ faces have the same gray color as the back. An arboreal bird, usually encountered singly or in pairs (or occasionally small parties) within mixed-species flocks in canopy of montane forest. Song starts with one or two piercing high “whit” notes followed by a short jumble of four notes. Also gives single high-pitched “whit” and “seep” calls.

A hefty brownish member of the swallow family. Darker on the back and paler below. Note the slightly forked tail with white spots. Nests in canyons, escarpments, and gorges, as well as towns and villages; frequently in arid areas. Often seen in pairs or small groups; in winter congregates in larger flocks. Not very vocal, but sometimes gives a short, dry trill. At a distance, can be confused with “Riparia” martins; look for this species’ bright white tail patches. Separation from Red-throated Crag-Martin may be tricky, but there is little or no overlap in range.