Thick-billed Kingbird

The largest pigeon in the region, with dark purplish plumage except for metallic green around the neck. Generally uncommon endemic of islands off Japan, and to a lesser extent South Korea and Taiwan. Occurs in mature broadleaf forests, where it forages on the ground or in canopy. Also favors pines, especially in the Ryukyu Islands. Rustles about loudly when feeding. Deep call and slow moaning song may recall the everyday Rock Pigeon.

Very small finchlike bird found in grasslands with bushes. Males are black above and white below with a black throat. They are very similar to Yellow-bellied Seedeater, but with a white rather than yellow belly and a black rather than olive-brown back. Females are plain brown and inseparable from female Yellow-bellied Seedeaters.

Chunky, short-tailed, flat-headed bird patterned in green and black. Male has black head and breast, pale yellow belly with bold dark barring, and mossy green upperparts with bold pale spotting on the wing. Female is similar but has a green head with barring all the way up the throat. On both sexes, note red bill and legs and pale eye varying from orange to gray to whitish. Fairly common in stunted forested habitats in the upper subtropical and temperate zone in the Andes. Sluggish; perches quietly in the middle levels of the forest, sometimes following a mixed-species flock. May be seen singly or in pairs, but several can gather around a fruiting tree. Listen for super high-pitched calls.