Middendorff's Grasshopper Warbler

Small yellowish finch with prominent wingbars. Male is attractive and distinctive, with a yellow face and breast offset by a black cap and small chin patch. Female streaky overall, often with yellowish tones; note especially the yellow wing and tail flashes of both sexes. Inhabits mixed and coniferous woodland and forest; also found in parks and gardens, and visits seed feeders. Often in flocks, mainly in the autumn and winter, gathering at good food sources. Listen for twittering, buzzing vocalizations, including nasal, rising “tuohweee” and dry chittering.

A small, gregarious, and tame species that is found in wide variety of open habitats including agricultural fields, parks, and gardens. The glorious adult male is unmistakable with its long tail and bright reddish bill. In nonbreeding plumage, both male and female have streaks on the sides of the upper chest, a boldly striped head, an orange-pink bill, and dark legs. In breeding plumage, the bill of female is dusky. Juveniles are dull brown overall. Vocalizations include “zhweet, “chee-chee-chee-chee...” and a plaintive down-slurred “seeeeoooo” as well as various squeaky and buzzy twitters.

Fairly small antshrike. Males are dark gray with a black throat. Females are tinged brown above and tawny below with a contrasting whitish throat. Found in the understory of lowland humid forest. Often leads mixed-species flocks; occasionally attends army-ant swarms. Sings a series of gradually ascending notes that ends with a harsh final note. Similar to Cinereous Antshrike, which can occur in the same flocks, but differs in throat color and in song.