Black-browed Albatross
Thalassarche melanophris
A common and widespread albatross of the southern oceans; often seen from shore and ferries. Like other albatrosses, often scavenges at fishing boats. All plumages white-headed, often obvious at long distance (black brow only visible at close range). Adult has orange-yellow bill, brighter at the tip and thick black irregular underwing margins; 1st-year has dusky bill with black tip and solidly blackish underwings; mostly like adult in 3 years.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Thalassarche melanophris
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Diomedeidae
- Genus
- Thalassarche
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
California Thrasher
Toxostoma redivivum
Long-tailed with long, slender bill that is sharply downcurved. Drab grayish-brown without any markings. Paler on throat; warmer orangey color on belly. Often hard to see when lurking in dense shrubs. Sings from prominent perches. Song is seemingly endless and complex. Forages primarily on the ground. Range restricted to dense brush and woodland in California and Baja California.
Annam Limestone Babbler
Gypsophila annamensis
A large, chunky, scraggly-looking babbler found in limestone hills covered with forest. Gray and brown overall with heavy streaking on the head, back, and throat. Forages close to the ground, often in and around rocky cracks and crevices. Song is a loud, ringing, rather hoarse-sounding sequence of whistled notes including some repeated phrases, sometimes given as a duet by a pair. Also gives harsh “grrr” calls. Similar to Streaked Wren-Babbler, but larger and longer-tailed, with bolder striping on the throat and no white spots on the shoulder.
Rufous-crested Tanager
Creurgops verticalis
This uncommon tanager is found in the subtropical zone of the Andes from Colombia to Peru. Medium gray above and rich buffy below with a stout hooked bill. The namesake rufous crest, only present on males, is usually visible only as a small crown patch. Compare with Black-eared Hemispingus, which has an obvious black mask. Occurs from around 1,400-2,700m. Singles or pairs forage in the canopy, often following mixed-species flocks.
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