South Island Wren

The largest gull in the world. Huge, bulky, and large-billed. Adults have dark black backs and pale pink legs. Nonbreeding adults have very limited streaking on the head. Takes four years for immatures to reach adult plumage; intermediate plumages are often mottled and messy. Tends to look colder-toned overall, with more checkered upperparts and a whiter head than other immature gulls. Always note large size and thick bill. Most common along the coasts of the northeastern U.S. and Europe, but also occurs on large lakes (especially the Great Lakes). Often gathers in mixed flocks with other large gulls on beaches and mudflats.

This flightless South American relative of the ostriches stands about 5 feet tall with a body about the size of a sheep; no similar species in its range. Rheas roam widely on open Patagonian steppe and also occur locally in open habitats of the Andes, mainly at very high elevations. Can be confiding where used to people, but in other areas wary, running strongly and quickly. Rheas occur singly or in groups, and males take care of the young. Adults have bold pale spots on the body, first-year birds are plainer overall.

Bright yellowish leaf warbler of forest canopy. Like Blyth’s and Claudia’s leaf warblers, Hartert’s has the habit of flicking its wings alternately; compare to Kloss’s and Davison’s leaf warblers, which flick both wings at the same time. Bright olive above with a broad yellow brow and yellow-suffused white belly. Crown stripe and broad, orange-based bill distinguish this species from the similarly sized and shaped Arctic Warbler and Pale-legged Leaf Warbler. Breeds in foothill and submontane broadleaf forests, winters in various wooded habitats at lower elevations, including forest edge. Song is a sweet, high-pitched “wit-wichichew-wichichew-wichichew.” Call is a quiet “wit” or “wichichew.”