Somali Bee-eater

Plump, chickenlike bird of far northern climes; an adaptable species, residing in open tundra, forest clearings and edges, bogs, moorlands, and willow stands, sometimes even straying into farmland. Plumage changes dramatically throughout the year. In winter, both sexes are pure white with black outer tail feathers. As summer progresses, male develops rich rufous head and neck and brownish back; in winter, lacks black eyeline shown by Rock Ptarmigan. Summer female is paler golden-brown with intricate black and white markings. Female nearly identical to Rock Ptarmigan; look for slightly thicker bill. In western North America, compare with female White-tailed Ptarmigan, which lacks black outer tail feathers, has a colder summer plumage, and favors different habitats. Vocalizations include a comical nasal chuckle and various clucking notes. Subspecies on Great Britain and Ireland is known as “Red Grouse.”

Rather plain but subtly attractive little flycatcher best known in migration and winter, when it occurs widely in gardens, parks, and open woodlands, often with fruiting shrubs. In summer, inhabits temperate native rainforest where it often stays rather high in the trees and is easily overlooked. Found as singles and pairs in summer, but sometimes small flocks in winter. No similar species in range: note the rounded head with dark cheek patch and rusty wingbars.

Fairly common in the high Andes, where found at bogs, lakeshores, along streams, in agricultural areas of villages, usually near water. Feeds on the ground with a hopping and shuffling gait, sometimes cocking tail. Often in same areas as similar but larger and less numerous White-winged Cinclodes. Cream-winged is distinguished by duller brown (less rusty) upperparts, pale buffy tail corners (bold white on White-winged), and narrower white wing stripe shown in raised wing song display.