Black-billed Barbet

Medium-sized, elegant seabird of the deep Pacific Ocean, rare in Japanese waters. Grayish above, white below, with dark “M” pattern in upperparts. White forehead extensive; dark gray crown stands out against lighter gray back and often terminated by a sharp white “notch” of plumage. Underwing mostly white, with only small black marks at the “wrists,” unlike many other gadfly petrels, and tip of tail extensively black, unlike rather similar Cook’s and Masatierra Petrels.

Small falcon with distinctive male plumage: gray head, rusty back, gray tail with broad black tip. Female is brownish above, with barring on the back, wings, and tail. Note rather pointed wingtips (unlike rounded wings of Accipiter hawks), and distinct dark spotting on the breast. Inhabits open and lightly wooded country, farmlands, grasslands, and heathlands; often seen over grassy areas beside roads and at airports. Perches on wires and posts, and typically hunts by hovering, at times fairly high overhead. Very similar to Lesser Kestrel.

Attractive orange-and-black oriole endemic to central Mexico, where it takes the place of Bullock’s Oriole (of western North America). Favors open woods, plantations, hedges with tall trees, and towns; migrants also occur in pine-oak forest in mountains. Feeds at all levels in trees and bushes, mixing readily with other orioles. Yellow-orange plumage of male distinct from purer orange of other orioles; also note the big white wing panel, black nape and cheeks, and black flanks. Female very similar to female Bullock’s Oriole but shows ghosting of male head pattern.