Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush

A large, long-tailed raptor of lowland and montane forest and clearings. Commonly seen in flight soaring in circles over the canopy with wing and tail feathers spread, showing strong barring. The only similar looking raptor that regularly soars is Pacific Baza, but Long-tailed Honey-buzzard has a streaked chest and lacks the buffy underwing and belly. When perched, similar to Doria’s Goshawk, but has yellow eyes and white legs. Usually silent.

The same size as Eurasian Skylark, with a longer and more slender down-curved bill and small head. Cryptically-plumaged upperparts with pale feather edges, a heavily streaked breast, and a white belly. North African race paler still than Iberian birds. Found in natural steppes and semi-deserts, walking with its head up, looking tall. Fiendishly hard to see. Prefers to run when disturbed rather than fly. Melancholic song delivered high in the sky at dusk and dawn.

Found at higher elevations than other members of its genus. Shy and uncommon denizen of forest undergrowth from 1,100–2,000 m. Chunky and short-tailed, dark brown above with rich rufous neck and breast. Blue eyering. Sexes alike. Could recall an antbird, but especially note pointier bill with a thicker base. Typically found in pairs or small family groups foraging on or near the ground. More easily heard than seen: song consists of repeated phrases that can have eerie clear notes, infected whistles, or harsher phrases, but is slower and lower-pitched than the songs of other wrens in range. Usually gives the same phrase many times before switching to a new phrase.