Red-hooded Tanager

A mostly red malimbe found high above the ground in lowland forests, where it probes into clumps of dead leaves and dead branches. Largely red below and black above, but black face and red crown and neck give it a collared appearance. Females are duller than males and have red throats, whereas males have black throats. Found in small groups or with mixed-species flocks, sometimes with other species of malimbe, from which it is distinguished by its wholly red belly. Songs and calls consist of dry, mechanical notes linked together into complex phrases with rasping sounds. 

Breeding males are spectacular birds with completely black underparts and mostly orange-red upperparts. Females and non-breeding males are brown and streaky. Breeds in moist areas including marshes, flooded grassland, and cultivated areas. Non-breeding flocks are found in many open habitats, and often mix with other species. The song is long and rattling, and the typical calls are rough “tek” notes. Breeding males are easily identified by their completely black underparts. Non-breeding males and females are very similar to other bishops, but are smaller than most other bishops, and lack the prominent yellow edges to the wing feathers of Fire-fronted Bishop.

A distinctive mid-sized parrotbill with a highly restricted range; limited to a small part of central China where it inhabits mid- to high-altitude montane scrub and open forests with dense low cover, particularly bamboo stands. Dull brown with a gray head, long black eyebrow, and a dark rusty-red face and throat. Moves in small flocks and vocalizes frequently, giving jumbled high-pitched squeaks and rattly trills.