Chinese Sparrowhawk

A sometimes secretive and sometimes bold resident of many habitats. Overall rather dull colored, but highly vocal. It is similar in shape and size to Scaly-breasted Thrasher and Bahama Mockingbird; told from both by its large pale bill. Told from Scaly-breasted Thrasher by its streaked, not barred underparts. Distinguished from the Bahama Mockingbird by its brown plumage and heavier streaking below. Song is a series of slowly given whistled notes with one to three phrases. Calls are varied, including high thin whistles, brief chirps, and harsh or guttural scolds.

Visually indistinguishable from Oriental Cuckoo. Adult male is gray above with a black-and-white-barred belly and a dark gray tail; females usually look similar, but some (known as hepatic morph birds) have cinnamon-brown upperparts with black barring throughout. Intermediate in size between Common and Lesser Cuckoos; distinguished from both species by buffy (not white) under-tail feathers and from Lesser Cuckoos by yellow iris. Song is a series of five notes, with the leading note being sharper and more distinct than the four that follow; compare with Oriental Cuckoo’s series of mellow paired notes. Breeds in a wide range of different lowland and hill forests; also more open habitats outside of breeding season.

Difficult to separate from Eurasian Treecreeper: note slightly longer bill, shorter hind claw, browner flanks, and even steps on the wingbar. In the field best separated by voice, a penetrating "tut." Where it overlaps in range with Eurasian Treecreeper tends to be found in more deciduous woodlands at lower altitudes and in farmlands and parks.