Varzea Thrush
Turdus sanchezorum
Large, gray-brown thrush. Note the white throat streaked with brown and the yellow bill. Inhabits seasonally flooded forest, and locally also savanna and white sand forests, where it mostly forages at lower levels. The song is slow, with whistled notes, and the species also makes mewing calls and rapid “cuk” notes. The similar Hauxwell's Thrush and Black-billed Thrush have black bills.
Identification
Large, gray-brown thrush. Note the white throat streaked with brown and the yellow bill. Inhabits seasonally flooded forest, and locally also savanna and white sand forests, where it mostly forages at lower levels. The song is slow, with whistled notes, and the species also makes mewing calls and rapid “cuk” notes. The similar Hauxwell's Thrush and Black-billed Thrush have black bills.
Taxonomy
Genus: Turdus; Family: Turdidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Turdus sanchezorum
- Authority
- O'Neill, Lane & Naka, 2011
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Turdidae
- Genus
- Turdus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Supertramp Fantail
Rhipidura semicollaris
Small island specialist; a "classic" fantail, with long, pale-tipped tail and slim bill. Plumage extremely geographically variable, and likely involves multiple species. Most populations have some rufous on the back and rump, but birds on small islands off of western Papua and parts of the Banda Sea are entirely brown above. Note black mask in most populations, and a black necklace with a variable amount of additional black spotting on the chest. Frequently cocks and fans tail. Actively forages near the ground in areas with dense vegetation, including mangroves. Previously considered the same species as Rufous Fantail, and more recently, Arafura Fantail.

Mascarene Swiftlet
Aerodramus francicus
Small gray swift with a slightly paler rump and belly. Flight is fast but erratic, with the wings pushed forward. Nests in caves, but can be seen in flight over all habitats on the islands of Mauritius and Reunion. The calls include high-pitched twitters and echolocation clicks. Usually easy to identify, as it is the only resident swift on the Mascarenes. Occurs alongside Mascarene Martin, but distinguished by the gray rather than brown overall coloration, unstreaked underparts, and more erratic flight style.

Tennessee Warbler
Leiothlypis peregrina
Tiny, greenish warbler that breeds in boreal forest. Breeding males have lime-green back, pale blue-gray head, and dingy whitish underparts. Females and immatures generally show more yellow overall, but still dull. Note thin dark line through the eye, paler eyebrow, and whitish undertail coverts. Most similar to Orange-crowned Warbler. Look for cleaner, unstreaked breast and white (not yellow) undertail coverts. Loud song for such a small bird; usually three-parted series of accelerating chips. Often found around flowering trees during migration. Winters in Central and South America.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.