Biak Whistler

Very small, fork-tailed hummingbird endemic to western Mexico. Favors scrubby woodland, forest edge, and flower banks; mainly in drier habitats. Feeds at all levels, wagging its tail as it feeds. Males sometimes perch on exposed high twigs. Male is distinctive; wholly emerald green (crown is not really golden, more of a golden-green) with very long, deeply forked blackish tail, and reddish bill with a black tip. Female has a striped face and reddish bill with a black tip. Female resembles female Broad-billed Hummingbird, but much smaller with a shorter and straighter bill.

A medium-sized sunbird with an olive back and gray belly. Male has a metallic bluish (may appear green in some light) hood and breast; female appears plain-headed with limited metallic plumage on crown. Immature like female, but darker and duller. Singles and pairs are uncommon residents of riparian forest, forest-edge, and broadleaved Miombo woodland. Sings a series of short jumbled high-pitched notes. Compared to similar Green-headed Sunbird, smaller Bannerman’s Sunbird has a shorter, straighter bill, and mostly blue head (duller on female), lacking an obvious green crown.

Medium-sized tern found on open ocean, beaches, and large lakes. Adults have pale gray body and black cap. Bill color differs by subspecies: most have red bill with black tip, but some Asian birds have all-black bills. First-years show dark outer primaries, dark shoulder, and black restricted to back of neck. Similar to Forster's, Arctic, and Roseate Terns. Separated from breeding Forster's Tern by entirely gray upperwings; nonbreeding Forster's shows black ear patch. Somewhat longer-billed and shorter-tailed than Arctic Tern, with paler body. Shorter-tailed and overall darker than gleaming white Roseate Tern. Often found in large flocks, especially in late summer. Gives a harsh screeching call "KEEE-yurrrr."