Gray Monjita

The only leafbird within its range with an orange belly. Male is unmistakable with a blue-and-black face pattern, a solid orange belly, and green-and-blue wings. Female is green all over with blue cheeks and less extensive orange on the belly. The female can be confused with female Blue-winged Leafbird, but Orange-bellied has an orange belly and more blue on the face than Blue-winged Leafbird. Often moves about quietly in the upper layers of hilly and montane forests, gleaning insects from branches and foraging at fruiting and flowering trees. Frequently incorporates the songs and calls of other species into its vocalizations.

Rare and poorly known seabird found in the Pacific Ocean well off the coast of Mexico. It breeds in the winter on small islets near Guadalupe Island, located 160 miles from the mainland, and disperses southward during other times of the year. Plumage is dark gray with a notched tail, white rump patch, and pale stripes on the upperwing. The rump patch is variable in extent, and on some birds may be split down the middle by gray feathers. Identification is extremely difficult due to its similarity with other species, especially Townsend’s Storm-Petrel and Leach’s Storm-Petrel. Remains at sea when not breeding; flies erratically and often patters the ocean with its feet.

Tiny Madeira endemic, essentially identical to Common Firecrest. Smaller than a warbler, with a distinctive combination of boldly striped head, white wingbars, and bronzy-golden patch on each side of the neck. Male has a fiery orange crown stripe, while the female has a yellow one. Juvenile lacks the adults’ striking head pattern and has a faint dark eyeline and wingbars. Resides in laurel and tree-heath forests, as well as mixed forest. Inconspicuous but active, often high in the canopy, giving high-pitched lisping vocalizations.