Alpine Munia

A forest-dwelling cuckooshrike in which males and females are strikingly different. Males are entirely black with a greenish gloss. Females have a barred olive-green back, a whitish throat, and otherwise pale yellow underparts with some barring on the breast. Found in the canopy of various forest types, including gallery forest, lowland rainforest, and montane forest. Not very vocal, but the most frequent vocalizations are thin, high-pitched “seep” notes. The male resembles other black male cuckooshrikes, but is distinguished by the slightly larger patch of bare yellow skin on the mouth and the greenish gloss, though these can be hard to judge. The female is identified by its combination of a barred olive back and a lightly barred yellow breast. 

Overall the Cape Griffon is creamy-white, much paler and larger than the White-backed Vulture. At close range, the adult’s eyes are honey-colored, and there is a speckled stripe along the middle of the wing. They nest in small to large colonies in hills and mountains but will fly hundreds of kilometers to forage. The similar White-backed Vulture is smaller and darker with a wing that is more contrasting between flight feathers and the remainder of the underwing; at close range its dark eyes are visible.

Rather large, dark, stocky gull-like seabird with big white wing patches (seen in flight). In summer often seen flying over Patagonian steppe or associating with Kelp Gulls at beaches, dumps, river mouths, and lakes near the coast. Also found well offshore, where it chases other birds to steal their food. Usually seen as singles or small groups. Plumage variable, but always with some orange tones—sometimes bright and extensive, sometimes limited to underwing and base of tail. The only skua likely to be seen in Chile and southern Argentina.