Taliabu Masked-Owl

Large, dark, angular storm-petrel with a deeply notched tail. Looks long-necked and large-billed. Paler brown upperwing band is usually rather faint and does not reach the leading edge of the wing. Typical flight style is smooth and powerful with deep wingbeats. Uncommon from central California to Peru, often in mixed flocks with other species of storm-petrel. Compare with dark-rumped Leach's and Ashy Storm-Petrels, but note flight style, overall shape, and large bill. Also very similar to Markham's Storm-Petrel, which overlaps offshore Middle and South America. Black is bulkier and larger-billed, with a duller upperwing band, and is usually found closer to shore than Markham's.

A nondescript robin; males are primarily black with chestnut bottom feathers, although males in the northern population have brownish upperparts. Males also have a white shoulder patch and a relatively long tail. Females have completely brown upperparts, lack the male’s white shoulder patch, and have grayish-brown underparts. They are generally seen in pairs, foraging on the ground with the tail cocked up. Found in open country, at forest edges, around human habitation, and in scrub lands.

Endangered seabird that nests only in Galápagos. Outside the breeding season, it disperses over the eastern Pacific and usually stays far from land. Note distinctive black-and-white pattern on underwing, mostly white underparts, and dark upperparts that extend down through its face to sides of neck; no other seabird found in and near Galápagos shares these features. When seen from above, it appears all dark except for some white around the base of the bill. Almost always encountered at sea, since it travels to and from its highland nesting sites only at night.