Gray-crested Helmetshrike

A very dark, long-tailed warbler of dry country. Blackish-gray overall with a reddish eye and white tips to the tail. With a good look, barring on the throat, belly, and vent may be visible. The tail is frequently cocked up. Generally common in dry thorn savanna and thornscrub. Usually stays in the understory, but will sing from the tops of bushes and small trees. Similar in shape to Miombo Wren-Warbler, but much darker, with virtually no overlap in range. The main vocalization is a loud “chup,” repeated about once per second. 

Small plump leaf warbler. A “Pallas’s-type” leaf warbler: stout, with a pale rump, crown stripe, and prominent brow stripes. Olive-yellow above with a faint gray wash on the nape. Chinese is distinguished from Pallas’s by its paler, more faded-looking brow and crown stripes, less yellow suffusion all over the body, less compact appearance, and less obvious or absent upper wingbar. Extremely similar Gansu Leaf Warbler and Lemon-rumped Warbler can be difficult to separate; note Chinese’s slightly more elongated and less rounded appearance, a lack of a distinct hook under the end of the brow stripe, less contrasting and more yellowish head patterning, and paler yellowish secondaries. Forages actively, often hovering and hopping about at mid-level. Breeds in montane broadleaved deciduous or mixed forest; moves to lower elevations in winter. On average, found at lower altitudes than Lemon-rumped and Gansu. Lengthy song is unique and bizarre, with a twanging, grating quality: “btrichi-btrichi-btrichi.” Call is an explosive “wip!”, often repeated in medium-length series on the breeding grounds.

Large, bright green parrot of humid evergreen forest in tropical lowlands. Uncommon. Found in rainforest and adjacent clearings, not in open habitats. Most often seen flying overhead early and late in the day, usually in pairs. Best field mark is the big pale eyering on a fairly plain head; with a good view, the bluish crown can be seen. Like other parrots in the same genus, in flight shows a red patch on the flight feathers.