Black-breasted Munia

A typical pitta: plump, short-tailed, long-legged, and primarily terrestrial (sometimes perches up to call). Bright green above with electric blue shoulder patch and rump and black head with conspicuous pale brow. Underside golden-buff with black and bright red on the belly. Plumage varies geographically, with forms varying in eyebrow, throat color (white or black), and extent of red and black on belly. Juvenile duller, with little blue in wing, an orange-tipped bill, and a pinkish belly. Inhabits woodland, forest, scrub, and plantations in lowlands and hills; some populations migratory. Sometimes arboreal when calling. Voice varies throughout range; generally a variation on “wit-wit-deer” or “werwer-dew!”

A medium-sized parrot of montane forest on Luzon. The two central tail feathers have extended shafts ending in a racket shape. Overall green in color, darker on the back and paler below. Male has a blue face and a red crown. The similar Green Racquet-tail may overlap geographically, but Luzon is usually found at higher elevations and has a darker back. Voice includes various grating calls and shrill squeals.

Huge albatross of the Southern Ocean; breeds mainly on Campbell and Auckland Islands in New Zealand, but ranges widely. Easily separated at a distance from smaller albatrosses by white back. All ages can be separated from the Wandering Albatross complex (including Snowy, Tristan, Antipodean, and Amsterdam Albatrosses) at close range by diagnostic narrow black “lips” on cutting edge of bill. Younger Southern Royals are more easily separated from Wandering-types by mostly dark upperwings, gradually attaining a finely snow-dusted appearance on the leading edge with age. Older birds can show extensively white upperwings, but markings are always finer than on Wandering-types, with less extensive white in the center of the wing. Southern Royals usually have all-white tails, sometimes with small dark markings; any bird with a largely dark tail can be identified as a Wandering-type. Southern Royal never has dirty brownish markings on head and body like many Wandering-types. Also note slightly longer, thinner bill and shallower forehead, which give Southern Royal a “snoutier” look than Wandering-types. From Northern Royal Albatross by white markings on the upperwing, especially on the leading edge. Youngest Southern Royals can have very narrow white leading edge; can require close scrutiny or good photographs to identify with confidence. Range averages further south than Northern Royal, but some overlap.