Solomons Rufous Fantail

Bright yellow face with olive cheeks, crown, and back. Only breeding males have solid black throat. In all plumages, look for dark streaks on white flanks and yellow wash on vent. Breeds in mixed coniferous forests; migrants can be found in any wooded habitat, usually with tall trees. Winters primarily in Central America and the Caribbean, rarely into northern South America. Compare especially with Townsend’s Warbler on the wintering grounds, but Black-throated Green has a less contrasting face pattern (especially paler crown and cheeks) and less yellow on breast.

Handsome finch-like bird found in dry habitats of western Peru and western Ecuador. Male has a black breast and face mask that stand out against his white throat, eyebrow, and belly. Similar to Black-capped Sparrow, but breast band is much thicker, eyebrow extends almost to bill, and tail shows some white. Young males may have patches of brown in their plumage. Female is quite different; she is mostly brown with a lot of streaking. Her thick, pale eyebrow and orange bill are good identification features.

Small, shy sandgrouse of harsh deserts. Beautifully patterned all over with fine black stripes. Male has black-and-white forehead pattern and broad sandy and black horizontal bars across his breast. Both sexes have a pale yellowish eyering. Rather compact with a short rear. Inhabits stony, mountainous deserts. Unlike most other sandgrouse, drinks at dusk. In flight utters odd, urgent squeaks.