Australian Pipit

Fairly small macaw with a bare white face that contrasts with its dark bill. It has a small red forehead, which can be quite difficult to see, a blue crown, and a red belly. The flight feathers are striking blue. Usually seen in pairs or small groups at forest edges, palm groves, and open woodlands. The flight call is a mellow “graaaa.”

Small thrush-like bird with distinctive black-and-white tail pattern that is striking in flight. Breeding male has a black face, throat and wing, gray back and crown, and white underparts. Breeding female is duller, with a brownish crown and back, and usually a speckled blackish face and throat. Nonbreeding and immature birds are duller overall, though males retain their distinctive black throat. Breeds in the Atlas Mountains of northwest Africa, in areas of bare rock and short grass. Migrates south into the Sahel, where it spends the non-breeding season in a variety of open habitats such as grasslands and barren rocky plains. Tends to stay on the ground or on low perches. Jumbled-sounding song is quite variable, often including whistles, trills, and mimicry. Similar in appearance to Northern Wheatear, though male Atlas Wheatear is usually separated by its black throat. Separating females during migration and on the wintering grounds is usually difficult. Female Atlas Wheatear has a black “wingpit” and front part of the underwing, but this is hard to see in the field.

Aptly-named; looks like a Yunnan or Mountain Fulvetta that went overboard with eyeliner. Warm brown with a pale belly and gray head. Black stripe very slightly and elegantly arches up above the eye. Larger than Mountain and Yunnan Fulvettas, and more warmly-colored than the former. Due to the lack of a prominent eyering, it also appears less smaller-eyed and less “cute” than those species. Inhabits broadleaved forests, where it can often be found as a part of large mixed flocks. Song is a brief series of rather bland plaintive phrases. Calls are harsh rolling chatters.