Spotted Tanager

Streaked brown above and yellow below with distinctive black "V" on breast. In flight, short wings and spiky tail with white outer feathers are apparent. Breeds in fields and grasslands throughout much of western North America, regularly as far east as Michigan. Winters in a wider range of open habitats, even agricultural fields and roadsides. Extremely similar to Eastern Meadowlark and best distinguished by voice: listen for musical gurgling song and "chuk" calls. In winter, plumage looks paler and more washed-out than Eastern Meadowlark, with a less contrasting head pattern. Western is also more likely to be in flocks and areas with shorter grass (less pristine, extensive grasslands).

This charming species is fond of pine woods where it is often found creeping along branches and trunks in a manner similar to that of the Black-and-white Warbler. Also visits flowers. The very similar Yellow-throated Warbler has less extensive yellow on both belly and face as well as a thicker eyeline, more distinctive white patch behind the cheek, and shorter bill. Song is a sweet “chutty, chutty, chutty, swee, swee, tsoo, tsoo.” Call is a single high “chip” or “tsit” like that of a Yellow-throated Warbler.

An active, slender, unstreaked warbler with a long graduated tail that is sometimes cocked. Gray-brown above and pale below, with a distinctive pale eyebrow. Found near water, but in arid areas, in tall grass, reeds, and bushes. Similar in appearance to Tawny-flanked Prinia, but slimmer and paler below, and also usually distinguished by habitat and song. The song is a quick series of high-pitched “seep” notes, similar to Tawny-flanked Prinia’s but higher-pitched, purer, and less scratchy.