Black-spotted Bare-eye

A common understory bird found in the undergrowth or on the ground in forests of all types, from the lowlands into the foothills. The reddish-brown back and tail are noticeable when the bird flies away in the undergrowth, but look also for the white undersides, dark gray legs, and gray face. This alethe’s fiery crest is hard to see in the field and often appears as a reddish-brown crown stripe. Sometimes imitates other species, including illadopsises. Distinguished from Brown-chested Alethe by its plain gray face, dark legs, and reddish crown stripe. Gives a distinctive two-parted whistle, “go where?”, with a distinct pause between the notes.

Chunky and short-tailed rainforest wattle-eye. Males are black-and-white, with a white collar all the way around the neck and a very broad black breast band. Females are mostly chestnut, with a white belly and mostly gray head. Both sexes have bluish-purple bare skin around the eyes. Found in the understory and middle levels of rainforest and gallery forest, at middle and low elevations. The vocalizations are highly variable but consist of repeated notes, which can be clear toots or frog-like sounds. 

Very large wren that tends to be common throughout its wide range. Overall brownish plumage is geographically variable - northern populations have dense dark brown spots on paler underparts, while southern populations are more uniformly medium-brown above and below, with a few spots on the lower belly and vent. Mostly found in the canopy of humid forests, including disturbed areas; southern populations also occur in tangles and edges of semi-humid woodland. Distinctive song of loud, mellow, chortling notes is a regular sound anywhere this species occurs.