Golden-winged Cacique

Brightly-colored barbet restricted to the Annamite Range of southern Vietnam and southeastern Laos, where it inhabits hill and montane forests. Like other barbets, often sticks close to dense foliage in the canopy, where it can be difficult to see; listen instead for its echoing hiccuping song, which has a frog-like quality. If seen well, note the leaf-green body, thick black mask and “eyebrow”, red forehead, and bright yellow throat and crown. Namesake “necklace” consists of a thin black line across the throat which can be difficult to see. Very similar to closely-related Golden-throated Barbet, but ranges do not overlap.

A swallow with a small rufous patch on the forehead and a diagnostic complete steel-blue breast band which forms a white throat patch. This migrant breeds in South Africa in the Austral summer, September to April, and spends the non-breeding period (May to August) in south-central Africa. It prefers foraging in pairs or groups, sometimes with other swallow species, in grassland, light woodland, and floodplains, and is often seen perching on fences or on posts near water.

Endemic to the Falkland Islands, where it is found in seashore areas and offshore islets, typically in association with tussac grass. Often forages on rocky beaches, picking at food items washed up by the tide. Somewhat similar House Wren has wandered to the Falklands before, but note present species’ gray-brown head and neck, lack of a prominent eyering, and longer darker bill. Can be tame and confiding, allowing close approach. Rattling song, somewhat similar to that of House Wren, can be given from an exposed perch or deep in cover. Calls include nasal mews and harsh, dry churrs and rattles.