Purple-bellied Lory

An unusual duck of alpine lakes and mountain streams. Very distinctive elongated shape with yellow bill, dark head, strong barring on the body and a pointy tail which is cocked when startled. In flight, it has a green panel in the wing bordered with white. It swims with a distinctive head-bobbing motion and feeds by dabbling and diving. It is a strong swimmer and can also do agile leaps onto rocks. Usually silent, but occasional gives a quack or series of “whip-whip-whip” notes.

A short-tailed understory robin with a bright yellow-orange throat. Also shows a dark-green back, buff belly, and a white spot in front of the eye. Most often encountered by its song: a duet, in which the male gives high-pitched whistles and the female makes an accompanying chatter. Similar to Orange-breasted Forest Robin (potentially very limited overlap in range), but underparts more extensively yellowish-orange. Otherwise most likely to be confused with Lowland Akalat, but can always be distinguished by the white spot in front of the eye, as well as the dark-green rather than rufous-brown back, and the buff rather than white belly.

Ebony head and snowy throat, combined with the hazy mixture of bright orange and black on the back, give this bird a distinctly “tortoiseshell” appearance. Appears larger-headed and slightly shorter-tailed than other sibias. Inhabits foothill and montane forests, where it travels in pairs and flocks through the canopy. Unlike other sibias, frequently clambers around on tree trunks and branches like a nuthatch. Listen for its lovely warbled song and buzzy chattering calls.