Ankober Serin

A huge and extremely rare raptor of lowland and montane forests. One of the largest eagles in the world, and the national bird of the Philippines. Dark brown above with pale feather edges, white underparts, a streaked shaggy crest and back of the neck, powerful yellow feet, a very thick silver-gray bill with a black tip, and black around the eye. Unmistakable if seen well perched. In flight, much broader-winged than other raptors. Voice is a descending, whistled “weeuuuu!” repeated at intervals.

Small dull swallow, brown above and white below, with a sharp brown chest band. Nearly identical to Bank Swallow, with which it breeds sympatrically and overlaps on migration, but look for a slightly less well-defined lower border to the cheek patch and a slightly paler, more diffuse breast band. Voice also differs subtly, Pale gives primarily series of dry notes with a more trilling quality than Bank Swallow’s. Similarly picky in its nesting locales, limited only to sandy hillsides and banks, often near a water source.

Chunky little bird of middle levels and understory in humid tropical forest of lowlands. Away from display areas, usually found in ones and twos perched quietly or feeding at fruiting trees and bushes from understory to canopy. Often sits still for long periods and easily overlooked. Male unmistakable: flame-red head glows in shady forest. Female notably drab, dull greenish with dull pinkish bill, dark legs, best identified by shape and behavior.