Crimson-hooded Myzomela

A mysterious medium-sized rail, possibly of foothill or montane grassy areas and forests. Dark brown above with a pale gray chest, a whitish throat, a barred belly, blackish legs, and a fairly long, curved reddish bill. Little known in life and mainly seen at a banding station, suggesting local migration. Similar to Slaty-breasted and Buff-banded Rails, but Luzon has a fairly unpatterned back, a longer, thinner bill, and no rufous on the head. Voice little known, although when distressed, gives a sharp “kwik!” and various squeals.

Bright yellow finch of foothill and montane coniferous and mixed forests. Male is greenish-yellow above and bright yellow below. Female is less yellow overall and extensively streaked all over her body; can be similar to female or juvenile greenfinches, which are less extensively streaked and have a single large bright yellow panel on the wing. Often perches at the tops of coniferous trees. Forms large flocks in the winter. Gives a variety of calls, including wheezy notes, twitters, and trills. Song is usually a combination of wheezy and trill notes.

A small, compact, finch-like sociable lark that can be both resident and nomadic, although movements are poorly understood. The sexes differ in plumage: the distinctive male has a tawny crown and nape, bold pale ear-patches, and otherwise dark face and throat that stretch as a line down the belly to the vent; the dull streaky female has a buffy eyebrow and a dark breast and belly patch. Immature is similar to the female. Small-to-medium-size flocks prefer semi-arid grassland and bare fields. Compare to Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark, in which both sexes are darker and more contrasting than Fischer’s Sparrow-Lark.