Blue-crowned Laughingthrush

Small skulking thrush, more often heard than seen. Distinctive if seen well: all gray, slightly browner above, with blacker cap. Bill and legs are dark. Dark eye distinguishes from Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush. Sexes alike. Found in forest, always low; can be seen along trails and is often less shy than other nightingale-thrushes. Song consists of simple flutelike phrases, often repeated.

A chunky, large-headed bird of open areas, usually found perched on wires or flying around in search of insects. Soft gunmetal gray with white underparts. Often found pressed together in pairs or tight groups when at rest. Sometimes flies in the same areas as swallows and swifts, but has a much thicker build, with triangular, somewhat starling-like wings. The only woodswallow throughout most of its range. Song is a somewhat myna-like series of sweet warbling and harsh chattering. Also gives nasal scolding “nyeh”, comparable to a jay or treepie.

A common, mid-sized swiftlet found over forests and open areas, mainly in the mountains. Slender shape and a notched tail that it sometimes fans. Gray-brown with a contrasting darker tail and forewing. Often seen in flocks and can fly at all levels. Does long glides with tips of the wings held down slightly, and sometimes tipping from side to side. Not safely distinguished from the lowland Uniform Swiftlet. Call, a high-pitch, up-and-down chatter including some grating notes.