Wire-tailed Swallow

Scarce, very local, and rarely seen rail of Patagonia. Found in fresh marshes and lake edges with tall reeds and rushes. Sometimes comes out to feed at edges of reeds early and late in the day, but mainly detected by voice. No similar species in range: note the striped back, barred flanks, and red bill. Plumbeous Rail is larger with plain plumage and a greenish bill.

A dark-headed brown bulbul with a bright red vent; common in towns, plantations, and forest edges. Red-vented Bulbul, with which it overlaps in southwestern China, can be similar, but it has a completely black head. Juvenile has orange vent and can be confused with Brown-breasted Bulbul, but the latter has a more strongly peaked head, no white tail trimming, brown auriculars, and a more contrasting white throat. Often seen in pairs and small flocks, foraging at mid-level and on the ground. Song consists of high-pitched warbling calls.

Dark ash-gray petrel of cold southern seas. Small- and stout-bodied overall, but with a large, “puffy”-looking head. Note underwing patterning, with a pale “shoulder” separated from pale-based primaries by a broad, diffuse dark bar. Flies quickly and strongly, often arcing up to impressive heights above the waves on angled, sharply kinked wings. Can be difficult to distinguish from other dark medium-sized petrels at a distance, but note pale patches under the wings, overall gray body coloration, relatively large “cute” head, and flight style. Often forages at night. Nests in loose colonies on the Prince Edward, Crozet, and Kerguelen Islands, as well as Gough Island.