Brown Gerygone

A sleek inhabitant of wooded areas that ventures into gardens and parks searching for flowers and fruit; prefers areas with palms. The adult is distinctively all black except for its yellow vent, rump, and shoulders. No similar species occur within its range. Immatures are yellow to yellow-orange and resemble immature Baltimore Orioles, but have thicker and blacker bill and lack the white wingbars seen on Baltimore Orioles. Full song is fluid series of whistled upslurred and down-slurred notes. Calls include a buzzy “zzwhi” and an emphatic “tchu.”

Rather large, overall bright green hummingbird of highlands. Favors pine-oak forest and edge, especially overgrown clearings and roadsides with dense flower banks. Fairly common and is especially conspicuous when singing. Song is a jerky, metallic, chipping song given tirelessly from an exposed twig at middle to upper levels in trees. When feeding often stays fairly well hidden within flowers. Note overall deep green plumage with dark violet cheek and breast patches, and broad dark tail band.

Large, dark brown skua with a very robust beak. Several subspecies vary in plumage from largely dark to mottled pale brown. In flight, exhibits a broad white patch on both upperwings and underwings. Usually seen well offshore, less often towards the coast; often follows boats. Lacks the capped appearance of Great and Chilean Skuas, and has darker underwing coverts than those species. The dark morph of South Polar Skua has colder tones and a smaller bill, but field separation is difficult.