Jerdon's Minivet

Rotund terrestrial bird of hilly forests, usually seen singly. Male exquisitely colored: bright flame-orange overall, with white dots all over the body, black face, and electric blue facial wattle that is inflated into a liver-shaped, dazzling red-and-blue flap during courtship. Female similarly shaped and sized, dark brown overall, with pale spotting and streaking. Generally quiet; courting males give loud booming moans.

Slender, long-winged plover usually found in relatively dry habitats. Breeding plumage shows black belly and face, white neck sides, and dark back and crown spangled with gold. Note sides and undertail coverts entirely black, but beware females and molting birds can be mottled with some white. Nonbreeding plumage is much drabber; grayish overall with distinct white eyebrow and dark cap. Juveniles are crisp and neatly spangled above, washed with gold on the upperparts. At all seasons, note slender shape and narrow bill to separate from Black-bellied Plover, along with grayish underwing in flight. Extremely similar to Pacific Golden-Plover; American is slightly longer-winged, shorter-legged, and smaller-billed, but these features are difficult to judge. Juvenile American is usually duller than Pacific, especially on the face and neck. Average habitat preferences are important (Pacific Golden and Black-bellied more regular on beaches and mudflats), but much overlap. Range is also important. Breeds on Arctic tundra. Fairly common migrant through central North America, uncommon on East Coast, rare on Pacific Coast. During migration, prefers sod fields, dry mudflats, and pastures; often in small flocks, sometimes mixed with Black-bellied Plover. Winters in South America. Note voice: a plaintive “pleedoo” call.

Fairly small hummingbird with a limited range in the foothills on the east slope of the Andes from southern Colombia to northern Peru. The broad white collar and extensive white in the tail are the most obvious field marks, otherwise it is green above and white below with a straight bill. Occasionally visits feeders, but is more likely to be found in the understory of forests in the foothills from around 900 to 1,300 m. Compare with female Booted Racket-tail and Rufous-vented Whitetip.