Philippine Fairy-bluebird

A medium-sized bird of montane forest. Brown upperparts with dotted edge to the wing, pale buff underparts, blue cap edged with black, black crown spot, long white stripe behind the eye and an eye-ring, broken by a black line at the back. Deliberate movements, scanning carefully for insects. The blue crown and facial markings are unique. Upbeat song “toowa-tee!” reminiscent of a New World spinetail. Interspersed with a dry “wik”.

Striking medium-sized woodpecker of western North America. Long, solid white wing patch helps distinguish it from Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. Adult male has red cap and throat; females are similar but with white chin; juveniles are messy brownish-gray overall. The namesake red nape is just a small patch and can be difficult to see. Compare with the extremely similar Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, which barely overlaps in range. Note male Red-naped has a more extensive red throat patch with a narrow, broken black border, and the white markings on the back are less extensive and loosely organized into two rows. Head pattern usually separates it from Red-breasted Sapsucker, but beware some hybrids occur. Breeds in montane forest, often with aspens or willows. Descends to lower elevations in winter; occurs in a variety of woodland habitats from the southwestern U.S. to central Mexico. Like other sapsuckers, drills rows of sap wells into tree bark. Listen for irregular drumming (like morse code) and various nasal calls.

Chunky black-and-white bushshrike. The upperparts are cleanly black and the underparts are white with a pinkish wash, especially on the breast. Uses habitats with a dense understory, including riparian thickets within savanna, as well as forest edge. Usually found in pairs. Similar to Tropical Boubou, but there is little overlap in range, and Turati’s is separated by the lack of a white shoulder patch. The typical vocalization is a duet in which the male gives a hollow, rising whistle and the female a low, rasping, frog-like note.