Pied Cuckooshrike

Small, striking antpitta that lurks in bamboo-laden cloud forest at very high elevations in the Andes. Brown and gray with white crescents on face, streaked underparts, and buffy spots on sides of neck. Stays in forest understory, but not typically on the ground. Usually located by voice; typical song is a rising series of sweet, piping whistles.

A small bird with a long curved bill. Adults have an obvious dark cap (black on males and gray on females) and mask with dark marks down the side of the chest. Note the white corners to the fanned tail that can be obvious in flight. Young birds are plain buff-colored underneath and plain brown above. Young birds could be confused with female Scarlet Myzomela (Scarlet Honeyeater), but note longer bill of spinebill. Eastern Spinebills are active and fast, darting around quickly between flowering trees in wetter forested areas as well as parks and gardens. Voice is a loud repetitive piping whistle.

Small, shy, and poorly understood, this reed warbler breeds in the remote marshlands of northeastern China and Russia and winters in drier, grassier habitats in Southeast Asia. Warm brown overall with a clean-cut whitish brow and throat; brow extends well behind the eye, unlike in Blunt-winged Warbler. Very similar to extralimital Paddyfield Warbler, but Paddyfield shows dark-tipped lower mandible, duller brown tones overall, and a dirtier brow stripe with a distinctive pinch just before the eye, after which it fades out; Manchurian’s brow broadens behind the eye instead. Oriental Reed Warbler much larger, with a weaker head pattern. Rambling jumbled song consists of high-pitched warbling notes and sharp clicks and rattles; more pleasant-sounding than that of Oriental Reed Warbler.