Hume's White-eye

Male distinctive, with long, lyre-shaped tail and white undertail coverts; shows white wing stripe in flight. Female warm brown with heavy dark barring; compare to smaller and rustier Willow Ptarmigan (known in Great Britain and Ireland as “Red Grouse”), which shows a solidly dark tail in flight. In early spring, males gather around dawn to display, fanning their deeply forked tails and fluffing their white undertail coverts while giving a low churring call. Habitat varies throughout range, but generally favors more open forests and forest margins, as well as upland steppes, heathlands, and moors. In southern parts of range, such as the Alps, favors denser forests with conifer stands.

A medium-sized bird of montane forest and secondary habitat in the Baliem Valley. Typical male “golden” whistler, with yellow belly, black head and breast band, and a white throat. Female has a brown head and breast band with a scaled throat. Co-occurs with the similar Sclater’s Whistler, but Baliem male has a broad yellow band around the back of the neck, and female has a scaled rather than plain white throat. A jumbled, whistled song containing some notes with an explosive quality.

Large, rather plain brownish sparrow endemic to dry interior foothills and highlands, mainly in Oaxaca. Generally quite common and conspicuous. Found in brushy woodlands, gardens, and farmland with hedges; often in pairs or small social groups. Feeds mainly on the ground, but also at low to middle levels in bushes and brush. Subtly attractive if seen well, with a white bib, rusty throat band, and rusty vent.