Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak

Small, active songbird with long, pale-tipped tail and warm brownish-orange on the forehead, rump, and tail base. Grayish brown above and pale below overall, with a white throat and black-speckled breast. Frequently cocks and fans tail. Endemic to the Mariana Islands (Saipan, Tinian, Agiguan, and Rota) and Yap, in the Carolina Islands. Extinct on Guam. Inhabits a wide range of habitats, from remnant native forests to towns. High-pitched, tinkling song often has a descending quality. Formerly grouped with other closely related species under “Rufous Fantail.”

A rather distinctive and bulky warbler: male plain grayish overall with eponymous black cap; female and juvenile plain, slightly browner overall, with rusty-brown cap. Inhabits wooded and scrubby habitats, including gardens, sometimes visiting feeders in the winter. Small numbers winter in Western Europe, but most migratory birds move south to Africa and the Mediterranean region. Song is a varied, rather loud rich warble, often strident. Often gives a harsh “chakchak” call, usually in series. Rare dark morph with black-hooded male and brown-hooded female can be found on the Atlantic Islands and very scarcely elsewhere.

A very small, thick-set, stub-tailed parrot. Entirely green with a small red throat patch. Female has a light blue facial crescent. In flight, bright blue underwing is diagnostic. Resident in lowland forest, most often seen in flight. Similar to Finsch’s Pygmy Parrot but much brighter, with vibrant green coloration and, in flight, a stronger blue underwing. Commonly gives a very high-pitched repeated “tse-tse-tse” on the wing.