Juan Fernandez Petrel

Gradually increasing after near extinction in the 20th century but still the rarest of the three North Pacific albatross species. Adult is striking: white overall, with dark wings, white upperwing coverts, a rich yellow nape, and bright pink bill. Juvenile blackish brown with pink bill; young birds attain increasing amounts of white in plumage as they age. Forages over a large pelagic range but sometimes seen from shore.

Large scoter with distinctive white patch on wing. Males are black and have small white mark under eye, dark knob on the bill, and red-and-orange bill tip. Females are dark chocolate-brown and have two rounded white patches on face. Extremely similar to White-winged Scoter: note male’s much more angular head structure with steeper and more prominent protuberance and different bill coloration. Female is much more difficult to identify, but has more swollen-looking protuberance. Breeds in Russian tundra and taiga pools and lakes, winters on the coast; only very occasionally reported inland in the winter.

The gray ghost of central African forests, moving silently inside the forest on or near the ground, sometimes associating with driver ant swarms. Distinctive, with a gray back, pale underparts, and a bald blue, red, and black head. Breeds semi-colonially during the rainy season in caves, under large boulders, and even under road bridges. Rarely encountered away from nesting sites.