Velvety Black-Tyrant

Very elusive, chickenlike bird of humid evergreen forest in foothills and highlands; scarce and very local in eastern Mexico where it is endemic. Usually in pairs or small groups on the forest floor. May be seen beside quiet trails and roads early and late in the day; runs away quickly and rarely flies. Note the blue-gray face and throat, red bill and eyering, and rusty breast. Loud rollicking songs are given mainly early and late in the day and most often reveal its presence.

A small bird of forests from the lowlands to low elevations in the mountains. Olive-green on the back with golden-olive wings and tail and a dark crown and eye-stripe. Whitish on the belly and throat with a pale yellow eyebrow and yellow under the base of the tail. Note the dark pinkish legs and the bicolored bill, dark above and orange below. Similar to Lemon-throated Leaf Warbler, but has a whitish throat. Differs from Arctic-type warblers in lacking any wingbars. Song consists of a lazy up-and-down sequence of high-pitched whistled notes.

The largest of New Zealand’s kiwis. A reddish to dark brown kiwi with brown to black streaking. Inhabits native forest, tussock grassland, and neighboring farmland. Mostly nocturnal, with some day foraging observed on Stewart Island and certain locations in Fiordland. Restricted to the mountains near Haast, Fiordland, Stewart Island, and sanctuaries. Foraging produces clear audible sniffling. Males give a series of clear rising whistles while females give a harsh throaty wail. Both sexes repeat their call many times. Could be confused with Weka by voice and shape; look for the kiwi’s much longer bill and lack of tail, and listen for its multisyllabic call.