Bay Antpitta

This small black-headed gull breeds on scattered saline lakes throughout central and northern Asia, as far east as Mongolia and northeastern China. However, it is seldom seen on its breeding grounds due to their remoteness. It winters in estuaries, beaches, and mudflats, where adults shed their handsome dark hoods for smudgy “earmuffs.” First winter birds are similar, but have light brown speckling on the wings (solid gray in adults, save for black-and-white tips). Stubbier-billed than Black-headed Gull and generally paler-headed than Saunders's Gull.

A widespread weaver that is known for its nest—a long hanging nest with a bulbous chamber and a narrow tubular entrance. Breeding males have yellow forehead and crown, a dark throat that contrasts with yellow underparts. Nonbreeding males and females are similar except they have buffy colors where breeding males are yellow; also note the dark streaks on the back and the broad buffy eyebrow on females. Juvenile resembles female, but lack the female’s obvious eyebrow. Baya Weavers lack the strongly streaked appearance of Streaked Weavers. Regional variation in plumage exist mainly in the amount of yellow and black in breeding plumage. Occur as flocks, particularly in breeding season. Advertising calls of males are an easy way to detect the species as several males in the flock call together creating a cacophony of a series of rasping chatters followed by a buzzing whistle interspersed with long chatters.

Large, lumbering shearwater. Diagnostic yellow bill is often visible from quite a long distance. Look for warm pale brown upperparts and clean white belly and underwings. Also note little contrast between the brown head and white throat (compare with distinct capped appearance of Great Shearwater). Lazier wingbeats than other large shearwaters, especially in calm conditions; wings look crooked with wrists pushed forward in flight. Forms mixed flocks with other shearwaters, especially when feeding. Fairly common in warm water; breeds in the Mediterranean and moves widely around the Atlantic when not breeding. Very similar to closely related and recently split Cory’s Shearwater. Can be identified with caution, and often by analysis of photographs, by the pale “tongues” extending into the otherwise dark outer part of the underwing.