Yellow Grosbeak

Small laughingthrush-like bird with a tiny range in far northeastern India. Look for a neat black cap, glowing yellow-orange broken “eyebrow,” and yellow-tinged wings. Appears to favor dense forest edge and degraded forest at 2060-2340 meters. Clambers about in lower levels of forest, typically in pairs or small groups, occasionally with otherwise uniform flocks of other species. Song is a series of mellow descending whistles, often with a slight rise at the end.

A colorful dove. Males have a bright silver head and chest, green wings, and a bright orange belly and undertail. Females are more uniformly green, with a yellow undertail and a grayish cast to the face. In flight, wings appear strongly blue. Occurs alongside Yellow-bibbed and White-headed Fruit-Doves, but male Silver-capped almost impossible to misidentify. Female is more similar to the other species, but gray face, dark beady eye, and silverish throat are diagnostic. Gives a typical dove-like bouncing, cooing call likened to laughter.

A small, brightly colored shrike of forest edges and lightly forested fields and gardens. Adult male has pale-bordered black mask, mostly gray back and wings, blackish tail, and warm orange crown, nape, and wash on sides (worn birds less brightly colored). Female has brown back, less obvious mask, rusty crown and nape, and light barring below. Juvenile similar to adult female but lacks pale border around mask. Compared to juvenile Brown Shrike, Bull-headed has warmer orange tones, larger bill, and weaker mask. Song a harsh, raspy collection of notes (including imitations); call is a staccato chatter.