Plain Swift

Robust warbler found near the ground in thick vegetation. Yellow below with blue-gray head and olive back. Adult males show black chest patch. Females are paler gray on the head; immatures are more olive-toned with a yellowish throat. Breeds in brushy, weedy clearings within mixed or coniferous forest. Often favors raspberry thickets. Tends to stay hidden in low vegetation, so can be difficult to see. Listen for its rolling song, “churry churry churry chew.” Most similar to MacGillivray’s Warbler, but little range overlap, and Mourning has somewhat shorter tail and lacks bold white eye-arcs. Also frequently confused with Common Yellowthroat, especially in fall, but Mourning is larger, with heftier pinkish bill, and brighter yellow underparts.

A medium-sized, long-tailed parrot of upper-montane cloud forest and clearings. Predominantly green with a bright red patch from the chest to the belly, broadest in the chest. Orange bill and pale green streaks on the face. Readily seen flying in small flocks. Similar to Yellow-billed Lorikeet, but Orange-billed Lorikeet is usually found at higher elevations, is slightly smaller with an obviously orange bill and greenish undertail. Call, a ringing, high-pitch phrase “sik siruk!” or single “Sik!” note.

Rather nondescript, brown mid-sized raptor. Endemic to Madagascar, where it is found in and around all forest types. Sometimes soars. Extremely similar to Madagascar Buzzard. In flight, Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk is distinguished by the heavy barring across the whole underwing and by the fewer thicker dark bars on the tail. When perched, look for the small, round head with a bulging eye. Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk also usually shows a heavily barred chest and white belly, whereas Madagascar Buzzard shows the opposite.