Taczanowski's Ground-Tyrant

A beautiful smoky-brown albatross with bright white eye crescents and an orange line running down the bill that gives this otherwise regal bird a goofy appearance. Unlike the otherwise similar Light-mantled Albatross, the present species’ dark head does not contrast with the rest of the body. Also note Light-mantled’s less obvious blue-gray bill line. Dark morph giant-petrels can be similar at a glance, but have larger, bulbous pink bills, and average more long-necked and hunch-backed in appearance. A pelagic species, ranging throughout much of the southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Nests on a handful of islands in that region, favoring areas with steep rocky slopes and tussock grass.

Gaunt scavenger with long, broad squarish-tipped wings and a long hairless neck. Dark overall with pale underparts. Very similar to Indian Vulture; note darker neck without white down covering, overall darker body coloration, and less white on the bill. Lacks white rump and contrasting underwing of White-rumped Vulture. Inhabits plains, grasslands, and open forests from lowlands up into the foothills. Congregates in large flocks at carcasses, where it hisses and cackles loudly. Once common; now fairly rare.

Active and attractive songbird of open spaces. Breeds in open forests and scrubby vegetation in subalpine areas; winters in a wider altitudinal range in scrubby forest edges, gardens, and fields. Frequently bobs the orange-sided dark tail. Male sports a gray crown and nape, black face, orange underparts, and dark wings with a white wing patch. Females are brownish overall but share the male's bright tail and wing patch. Compare carefully with Common, Hodgson’s, and Black Redstarts. Song is a lively, jingling cascade of warbling; calls include a short, high-pitched whistle and a hard “tsak.”