Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush

Small, plain-breasted thrush of tropical and subtropical evergreen forest in foothills and highlands. Usually elusive and heard far more often than seen. Feeds mainly on the ground, but also in fruiting bushes and trees. Sings from low to middle level perches. Plumage distinctive, with blackish cap, contrasting orange eyering and bill, and dusky upperparts. In dark shady understory, could be confused with Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, which has rusty brown upperparts. Song distinctive: slightly scratchy and not very fluty.

A medium-sized greenish-gray bird with a black cap and a carrot-colored bill, endemic to the middle and high elevations of the mountains of Grand Comoro. Found in humid forest and in adjacent plantations and secondary areas. Often in small, noisy groups. Very similar in appearance to Madagascar Bulbul, and they overlap at moderate elevations, especially in degraded habitats. Grand Comoro Bulbul is separated by the slightly larger size, the olive tint to the plumage, especially on the back, the yellowish tint to the underparts, and the paler belly and undertail. Its song is an unmusical series of rattling and scraping notes, often given from a high perch, similar to Madagascar Bulbul’s, but slightly lower-pitched and more metallic. 

Typical nuthatch; small bird with a wedge-shaped head, usually seen clambering around on trees. Gray above and white below, with a thin black line extending from the bill base to the shoulder. Deep rust red on the flanks and red-edged scaling under the tail serve to distinguish this otherwise plain species from similar nuthatches. Active and social, often following mixed flocks. Inhabits both broadleaf and coniferous forests in foothill and submontane areas. Listen for its song, a loud ringing series of trills. Calls include nasal caws, a bright-sounding “pewpewpew,” and high-pitched chittering.