African Yellow-Warbler

Widespread and often fairly common in the Andes, mainly in fairly open habitats from scrub to bogs and rocky slopes. Often relatively conspicuous, running on the ground with tail strongly cocked and often dipped, or singing from a prominent rock. Plumage rather plain overall with brownish upperparts and dark-centered, bright rusty tail. Favors more open habitats than Sharp-billed and Canyon Canasteros, which hold their tails more loosely and flip them around vs. being more stiffy cocked and dipped. Also note vocal differences.

A small sunbird with a relatively short, slightly downcurved bill. Males are a beautiful mix of green, purple, red, and yellow. Females are fairly drab, with a dark-streaked pale breast and a yellow belly. Found in all habitats on the island of Mayotte, though most common in scrubby habitat rather than in forest. In its small range, it is the only sunbird, so it is easily identified by its bill shape. The song is a typical sunbird jumble of high-pitched notes, and the call is a rising whine. 

Attractive petrel with a black mask, largely gray above and white below, with a diagnostic dark breast band. Note the heavy dark bill. In flight, exhibits gray underwings and gray and dark brown M-pattern on the back. The rare dark morph has dark underparts, but still retains the distinctive complete breast band, which is the most useful mark separating this species from Fea’s and Zino’s Petrels.  Usually encountered well offshore, in towering roller-coaster flights; sometimes follows boats.