Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo

A cryptically-colored ground-dweller without the bright colors and bold head patterns boasted by many of its relatives. Mottled brown overall with a grayish-white face and a speckled orange throat. Forages in dense undergrowth like other partridges, usually in mature foothill and lowland forest. Listen for its song, a series of ascending breathy whistles which culminate in an echoing series of ringing notes. As with many other forest gamebirds, very difficult to see in general; most likely encountered at staked-out blinds, or, if one is lucky, walking quietly along roadsides and clearings at dusk and dawn.

A large, dark grayish brown kiwi with brownish streaking, often showing white patches on face. Restricted to native forest near Okarito in New Zealand, with small populations on predator-free Mana, Blumine, and Motuara islands. Often heard at night foraging as it sniffs loudly, tapping the ground for invertebrates. Male call is a series of clear rising whistles. Female call is a harsh throaty wail. Both sexes repeat their call many times, and sometimes call simultaneously. Could be confused with Weka by voice and shape; look for the kiwi’s much longer bill and lack of tail, and listen for its multisyllabic call.

A medium-sized, short-tailed sparrow. Extensive plumage variation across range, but always streaky. Usually shows distinctive yellow patch in front of eye, but this can be indistinct or absent on some individuals. Some populations in California and Baja have larger bills and more muted gray streaking; others are very dark and boldly streaked. “Ipswich” Sparrow on the Atlantic Coast is paler with unique buffy-pinkish tones. Almost always found in open areas, from meadows and hayfields to tundra and coastal dunes. Tends to be found in more open habitats than Song Sparrow; also smaller and shorter-tailed.