Sri Lanka Woodshrike

Enigmatic and distinctive, this compact all-dark martin has striking red eyes and a bright orange-red bill. Juvenile is duller. In lethargic flight it appears bulky-headed, short-tailed, and triangular-winged. Small to large groups forage high over forested rivers, swamps, and coastal scrub. Birds migrate between two breeding areas, one in coastal central Africa from Gabon to northern Angola (August to December), and another farther inland, centered on the Congo River in west-central Democratic Republic of Congo (January to May), but their habits remain poorly understood. Calls include a scratchy chattering “skeer-skeer”; large flocks can become cacophonous. 

Very rare, small, stocky plover endemic to New Zealand. Shows an orange bill with black tip, orange eye-ring and legs, and distinctive white “halo” around head, below crown. Males have black mask on face, neck, and throat; mask is dark brown in females. Note broad white wingbar in flight. Juveniles lack face mask. Gives a soft “kleet” call, but territorial song is loud and ringing, similar to oystercatcher piping. Only found on a few predator-free islands around the New Zealand mainland and the Chatham Islands. Some birds have wandered to nearby mainland areas. Juveniles could be confused with juvenile Double-banded Plover (Banded Dotterel) but have much longer bills.

Small rainforest bird with yellow throat patch. Primarily olive brown with yellow edges to the primaries. Has a dark face with a pale streak above the eye. Inhabits rainforest habitats on the east coast of Australia. It is usually seen actively hopping around and foraging on the rainforest floor, as it feeds exclusively on the ground. May mimic the calls of other species.