Long-tailed Honey-buzzard

Stunning and unmistakable blackbird of western North America. Males are black with a golden-yellow head and white patch on the wing. Females are all dark brown with messy yellow on the head and breast. Breeds in marshes, where males sing a grating, mechanical song. Winters in large flocks, mainly in Mexico. Often mixes with other species of blackbird. Forages in open areas, sometimes on barren dirt or in fields.

Large, dark hummingbird found in coastal regions and along large rivers. Use caution eliminating the more widespread Black-throated Mango, which often occurs in the same habitats; female-plumaged birds in particular may not be safely separable. Found in mangroves, abandoned plantations, swampy forests, and urban areas, often at higher levels in flowering trees, where it feeds on nectar and hawks for tiny flying insects. In proper light, green throat of male is diagnostic. Tail color is useful if bird can be studied at length; Green-throated’s tail is mostly purple, with brownish central tail feathers (tail of Black-throated is more chestnut, but subject to variation depending on light).

A small honeyeater with a downcurved bill, limited to the islands of Buru and Seram. Spectacular male is unmistakable, all brilliant scarlet except for the blackish wings, tail, and belly. Female is dull gray-brown except for a diagnostic red wash on the head. Prefers forests and forest edge in foothills and mountains, where encountered singly or in pairs, sometimes with mixed-species feeding flocks. Calls on Buru include a disyllabic, slurring “tsiwit” as well as a “tsisewoo” song with trembling quality at the end. Voice of Seram birds differs, possibly indicating that they are a different species: “twee’ti’dit’tee.”