Common Iora

This small, active bird is common in gardens, scrub and open woodland across South and Southeast Asia, gleaning insects from foliage in the low and mid-canopy, often alone or in pairs. Males show a black cap in breeding plumage and perform a distinctive puffed-up, bouncing display flight, while both sexes give a range of whistled and buzzy calls that help locate them in dense leaf cover. The breeding season, which varies somewhat with local rains, is the best time to see the male's display and hear the most frequent calling.