Highland Elaenia

Medium-sized, mostly brownish terrestrial bird with a slate-gray head and neck, dark orange throat, and rusty spots on sides and wings. Endemic to Taiwan., where it inhabits lowland and foothill forests with undergrowth and densely vegetated edges, where difficult to see. Forages on the ground, usually in pairs, sometimes in small groups. Song is an accelerating squeaky series of notes reminiscent of a bathtub toy-- “rik-a-yeeee!”

Spectacular manakin with very long tail filaments and piercing white eyes. Males are bright yellow from the face to the underparts and bright red from the crown to the mantle; otherwise they are black. Females are dull olive-green with a yellow tinge to the chin and breast and have shorter tail filaments. Usually found near streams in humid forests, including gallery forests and old second growth.

Breeding males have obvious white blaze on forehead and broad green slash behind eye. Females are plainer brown with rusty sides. Females are very difficult to distinguish from female Eurasian Wigeon; note colder grayish-brown head on American that contrasts with warmer orangey sides. Also look for brighter white, not gray, underwings in flight, but this can be difficult to judge, especially at a distance. Widespread and common in North America, occasionally wintering as far south as northern South America. Typically in flocks on lakes and wetlands, often grazing in nearby fields. Regular vagrant to Europe.