Greater Ground-Robin

A medium-sized inhabitant of wet forests in mountains and foothills. Though subtle, its appearance is unique within its range. Note the subdued brown upperparts and soft gray underparts combined with a bold eyering, distinct dark whisker, and white outer tail feathers. Can be mistaken for a flycatcher, as it habitually sits motionless, except for sallies after insects or fruit, but no flycatcher in its range has a similar facial pattern or white outer tail feathers. Famed for its remarkable song, by which it is often first detected; a variable combination of loud shrills and flutelike notes.

A pale powder-blue-and-white seabird with a faint grayish dark “M” across the upperwings. Note the dark blue “thumb mark” collar, the blue eye-stripe, the white eyebrow, the white throat, and the grayish cap. Almost identical to Antarctic Prion, but bulkier and more heavy-chested, with a slightly wider bill. Essentially identical to MacGillivray’s Prion, with which it shares the breeding island of Gough, in the South Atlantic; MacGillivray’s has a slightly broader bill, but identification likely to be impossible at sea in most cases. Present species also breeds on the Crozet and Prince Edward Islands, and ranges from off southern Africa to New Zealand.

Small and compact with a small bill and a shorter tail compared to larger sparrows. Males have a gray head, a vivid rusty shoulder patch, a black throat, and a yellow patch at the base of the white mustache. Females are relatively clean-looking compared to males. Song is a series of high-pitched, sharp “tzip-tzip-tzip…” notes. The flight call is higher-pitched than larger sparrows. Breeds in thick scrub and trees where it builds a large and prominent nest that has unique thermoregulating properties for hot climates. A partial and short-distance migrant; moves in tight, fast-moving flocks.