Red-backed Sierra Finch

A small-bodied, mostly brown dove with a long, uniformly brown tail. Found in almost every forested habitat including regrowth around villages and mangroves. Darker wings contrast with a lighter tan-colored body and head. Uniform brown tail separates it from the similar Black-billed Cuckoo-Dove, which has a heavily barred tail and rump. MacKinlay’s is separated from Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove in its much darker head and paler undertail, especially in flight. Frequently heard calling, giving its typical namesake “coo-koo, coo-koo” call, sometimes likened to “let’s go, let’s go.”

Small oceanic gull. Adults have solid black wingtips that look like they were dipped in ink. Also note translucent flight feathers, entirely yellow bill, and black legs. Nonbreeding birds have a dark ear patch and smudgy gray on the back of the neck. Immatures are boldly patterned with a black collar and “M” pattern on wings. Rather buoyant in flight, sometimes soaring in high arcs in windy conditions. Breeds at high latitudes across the Northern Hemisphere, primarily in large colonies on cliffs and other structures overhanging water. Spends the winter on the open ocean, sometimes seen from shore. Rare inland. Can gather in flocks during migration and winter, especially where food is abundant.

True to its name, tends to be found in the upper reaches of forested hills and mountains. Olive-green overall, with lighter orange-buff to grayish underparts (depending on subspecies), and a streaky gray throat. Crested head, similar size, and pale throat can cause it to superficially resemble Chestnut Bulbul in poor lighting, but Mountain Bulbul has a longer-billed and paler-faced appearance. Large flocks are loud and easily detected as they fly overhead, giving sharp, repetitive, echoing calls, which can be likened to “zyi-zya” or “zya-zya”. Song is a prolonged, repetitive series of call notes.