Sri Lanka Bush Warbler

Dapper little finch endemic to the Azores, where it inhabits a range of habitats, from forests to farmlands. Handsome, brightly colored male has a blue-grayish cowl, pale orangish face and breast, and a black-and-white wing pattern (colors muted in winter). Female much drabber but shares male pattern; especially note the complex wing pattern. Both sexes have white outer tail feathers, often striking in flight such as when flushed. Song is a distinctive burbling, descending trill; calls include a squeaky “bi’dee” and lower yapping notes.

Medium-sized blackbird found in marshes, wet grasslands, and occasionally agricultural areas. Males are mostly black with a chestnut forehead, crown and throat. Females are dark brown above with faint streaks and olive-brown below with a buff throat. Highly gregarious, may gather in huge groups of up to 1000 individuals.

Huge albatross of the Southern Ocean; breeds mainly on Campbell and Auckland Islands in New Zealand, but ranges widely. Easily separated at a distance from smaller albatrosses by white back. All ages can be separated from the Wandering Albatross complex (including Snowy, Tristan, Antipodean, and Amsterdam Albatrosses) at close range by diagnostic narrow black “lips” on cutting edge of bill. Younger Southern Royals are more easily separated from Wandering-types by mostly dark upperwings, gradually attaining a finely snow-dusted appearance on the leading edge with age. Older birds can show extensively white upperwings, but markings are always finer than on Wandering-types, with less extensive white in the center of the wing. Southern Royals usually have all-white tails, sometimes with small dark markings; any bird with a largely dark tail can be identified as a Wandering-type. Southern Royal never has dirty brownish markings on head and body like many Wandering-types. Also note slightly longer, thinner bill and shallower forehead, which give Southern Royal a “snoutier” look than Wandering-types. From Northern Royal Albatross by white markings on the upperwing, especially on the leading edge. Youngest Southern Royals can have very narrow white leading edge; can require close scrutiny or good photographs to identify with confidence. Range averages further south than Northern Royal, but some overlap.