Olive Sparrow

A small, sunbirdlike bird of lowland and foothill forest. Long, thin, curved bill with olive upperparts and head. Southern birds have a brighter yellow belly and northern birds are more olive below. Similar to several other species, but Yellow-bellied Longbill lacks the gray chest of Spectacled Longbill and female Black Sunbird, lacks the yellow eye-brow of female Olive-backed Sunbird and lacks the contrasting yellow-throat of the higher elevation Slaty-chinned Longbill. Song, an often descending series of downslurred whistles.

Striking diving duck of coastal harbors, mountain lakes, and large rivers. Very similar to Common Goldeneye. Males are easiest: Barrow’s has more black on the back, a downward-pointing spur on the side, and a crescent-shaped (not circular) white patch on the face. Females can be very difficult. Barrow’s usually has a yellow bill, but Common can rarely show a dull yellowish bill. Head and bill shape are important: Barrow’s has a steeper forehead and a puffy nape, and a shorter bill with a more rounded lower edge. Fairly common in western U.S. and Canada; much less common in the northeast. Small population in Iceland. Frequently found in mixed flocks with Common Goldeneye.

Striking, medium-sized antbird, brown above and rich chestnut below, with a black face and broad white bare eye-ring. Females have thin black bars above. Inhabits the understory of humid forest, where it is always found foraging at army-ant swarms. The song is a series of ascending whistles that finishes with harsh descending notes.