Zenker's Honeyguide

Fantastic bird of the Amazonian region and adjacent Andean slopes. It looks like a huge crow with a bushy crest, a thick braid hanging from its throat, and pale eyes. Male is larger than female, with a longer (feathered) wattle and a white patch at the front of his crest. Flight is undulating and woodpecker-like. Inhabits tall rainforest, often along rivers, and males gather at display sites where they extend their wattles and give low pitched moos.

Plump, medium-sized shorebird with very long bill. Extremely similar to Long-billed Dowitcher, and often flocks with it. Best distinguished by voice: a rapid series of notes, “tu-tu-tu”, lower-pitched and almost always in a series, unlike single piercing “keek!” of Long-billed. At all ages, look for subtle structural differences: Short-billed averages flatter-backed, slightly shorter-billed, and slightly shorter, especially noticeable when in a mixed flock. Breeding birds are intricately patterned with a variable amount of orange on the underparts. Short-billed usually has some white on the belly, and paler upperparts with bolder golden and white markings. Also look for messy and extensive spotting on sides, not sparsely barred like Long-billed Dowitcher. Nonbreeding plumage is brownish-gray overall with a paler belly; extremely similar to Long-billed but averaging slightly paler and more patterned, especially on the breast and sides. Juveniles are easiest to identify: look for bright golden markings on the tertials and scapulars. Short-billed breeds in grassy wetlands and tundra, and can be found in a variety of wetland habitats in migration and winter. A very early fall migrant, with southbound birds appearing in the U.S. by late June. Usually in flocks, feeding actively like a sewing machine. Tends to favor saltwater marshes, beaches, and mudflats. Somewhat less likely in freshwater habitats than Long-billed, but much overlap, especially the hendersoni subspecies that migrates primarily through the center of the continent.

A large, long-tailed bird of lowland, open wooded areas, including mangroves. All black with red eyes and iridescence on the wings, back and tail. Some spotted iridescence on neck and chest. It has quite long-necked appearance. Co-occurs with Jobi and Trumpet Manucodes, but Glossy is larger and longer-tailed. Voice, an unpleasant, high-pitch whistle sounding a bit like microphone distortion. Sings from a high, open perch.