Semicollared Puffbird

Shy, skulky, frustratingly difficult to see, and not much to look at if seen well. A species of foothill and submontane open forest and forest edge, usually tucked well away in dense, tangled undergrowth. Brown overall with a pale, faintly streaked throat. East Indian subspecies has a white belly, while others are unmarked brown all over. Very similar to Buff-breasted Babbler, which has a clean, unstriped pale throat and is more slender in its build. Spot-throated’s song is musical and variable, usually incorporating clear whistles, lower chirrs and chatters, and imitations of other species. Calls are usually composed of low chattering or clicking notes.

Like most larks, often inconspicuous on the ground and best detected by voice. The prolonged warbling and trilling song is given in flight, often so far overhead that the bird appears as a speck, if you can even see it. On the ground, note brown streaky plumage, distinct bushy crest, and broad, diffuse paler eyering. Chunkier than pipits, and does not habitually bob its rear end. In flight shows white sides to tail and narrow white trailing edge to wings. A denizen of open country, especially rough grassland, heathland, farmland, and airports.

A fairly small bird of wooded areas on the Bay Islands. Low crest is flattened at the front and rounded at the back. Male is glossy black with a purplish-blue iridescence. Female is medium gray above, pale gray below with brownish flight feathers and a darker mask, contrasting with the pale throat. Male similar to male Shining Flycatcher, but Biak is found in forest rather than waterside thickets and is smaller and less glossy. Often found in pairs and female has gray rather than rufous upperparts. Voice, a simple up-and-down whistled song and raspy call.