Greater Swamp Warbler

Plain brownish warbler, without any striking features—in itself a field mark. Note hint of paler eyering, diffuse gray patch on side of neck, and relatively stubby bill for a warbler. Found in a wide variety of wooded and shrubby habitats, where it is often rather sluggish and easily overlooked. Pleasant, rich warbling song much like a Blackcap song, but tends to be more even-paced and less emphatic. Gives dry “chekchek” calls, often in series, similar to those of Blackcap.

Large, dark brown skua with a very robust beak. Several subspecies vary in plumage from largely dark to mottled pale brown. In flight, exhibits a broad white patch on both upperwings and underwings. Usually seen well offshore, less often towards the coast; often follows boats. Lacks the capped appearance of Great and Chilean Skuas, and has darker underwing coverts than those species. The dark morph of South Polar Skua has colder tones and a smaller bill, but field separation is difficult.

A long- and stiff-tailed bird with primarily rusty-brown upperparts and dull orangish underparts. The head, mantle, and neck region are a dull, sooty black. The long graduated tail is pale gray with a wide black terminal band. Note the conspicuous silvery-gray, white, and black patterns on the wings. The blackish-gray bill is stout with a hooked tip. Found in a wide range of habitats from woodlands to scrubby patches, singly or in pairs feeding in the treetops. The call is a loud metallic “krowwiiii kroo.”