Middendorff's Grasshopper Warbler

A chunky, pale, brownish wheatear of mountain habitats in southwestern Arabia. Note the white eyebrow, black eye stripe, clean white throat, and buff breast. The tail is mostly black with a white base and rump, forming a thick “T” pattern that is conspicuous in flight. Found in open habitats at high elevations. The song is a long, complex mix of many different components, both scratchy and musical, sometimes given in a flight display. Similar overall to several other species of wheatears, but no other species shows a combination of large size, long legs, black-and-white pattern on the face, and buff breast.

Common and fairly widespread across much of North America and the Caribbean. Medium-sized songbird with a relatively long tail, small head, and short bill. Gray above and paler whitish below. Note white wingbars and large white patch at the base of the primaries. Found in a variety of open habitats with scattered bushes or trees, often close to human settlements. Well-known for its impressive mimicry; often includes a wide range of other birds, car alarms, slamming doors, and other mechanical noises in its song. Limited range overlap with Tropical Mockingbird at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico; Northern is most easily identified by its large white wing patches.

Physically almost identical to Sikkim Treecreeper, but throat pale tan-orange instead gray. Bright contrasting rusty tail distinguishes it from other treecreepers in its range. A species of foothill to montane and submontane regions; averages lower in elevational range than Sikkim Treecreeper, with minimal to no range overlap. Favors broadleaf evergreen and mixed forests. Occasionally found in mixed-species flocks. Song is slower than that of Sikkim Treecreeper, a rather slow ringing trill composed of paired notes; calls include an echoing two-note “tsijew” and a high “tzit.”