Indochinese Yuhina

Large, stocky shorebird with a distinctive black-and-white wing pattern. Larger than Greater Yellowlegs, smaller than godwits. Overall grayish, with messy dark patterning in breeding plumage. Bill is straight and rather thick, with a paler base. Legs are grayish. Two distinct subspecies. “Eastern” Willet is smaller, darker, browner, shorter-billed, shorter-legged, and strictly coastal. Breeds in saltmarshes from Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of Mexico; migrates early, mostly departing the U.S. in August, and winters almost exclusively on the northern coast of South America. Especially likely to be seen foraging on extensive mudflats, sometimes in flocks. “Western” Willet is larger, paler, grayer, longer-billed, and longer-legged, giving it a more godwitlike appearance. Breeds in marshy grasslands in the Interior West; winters much further north than “Eastern” Willet, from both coasts of the U.S. to as far south as Chile. Especially likely to be seen on beaches.

Uncommon and local, rather small hummingbird of humid forest edge, plantations, and woodlands in tropical lowlands and foothills. Perches and feeds mainly at middle to upper levels in shady understory and at edges. Note the bright red bill and greenish-gold tail (which often looks grayish). Male has violet gorget. Female has violet throat spotting, but often these areas look rather dull and grayish unless they catch the light.

A cute and dumpy black and white flycatcher-like bird with striking red eye-wattles. The sexes differ: male has a broad black chest band and white throat; female has black chest and throat with only a small white chin patch. Juvenile browner, with indistinct eye-wattles. Pairs are resident, flitting around the middle canopy of primary and secondary montane evergreen forest. Restricted to the highlands of western Cameroon, where it is an endangered species. Calls include a repeated grating “chhrrt-er-cheert-cheert” interspersed with clicks, buzzing notes, and wing-flitting noises, similar to other wattle-eyes. Black-throated Wattle-eye is similar to Banded, but prefers woodland and has a white wingbar.