Beach Kingfisher

Adorable, active little bird with a minute stubby bill. Distinctive: tiny and fluffy with attractive pinkish, black, and white plumage and very long tail. Some plumage variation across range; adults in northern parts of range have white head without broad black eyebrows and whiter underparts, while those further south are darker. Juveniles (seen in summer–early autumn) have brown head sides; become like adult by winter. Often travels in groups, at times joining with flocks of other tits and small woodland birds. High-pitched, fussy calls add to restless demeanor. Inhabits wooded and forested habitats, parks, gardens, and hedges in farmland; sometimes visits bird feeders.

Males suffused with raspberry red, especially on head and breast. Compared to House Finch, males lack distinct streaks on sides and are overall more colorful, especially on back and wings. Females and first-year males have contrasty head pattern with pale eyebrow and darker cheek; also note well-defined streaks on sides. Breed in coniferous or mixed forests. Winters in a wider variety of habitats with trees. Visits feeders.

A quite large thrushlike bird with a robust beak. Grayish and slightly scaling-looking on the head and back with browner wings and tail, and gray-brown underparts. Similar to Screaming Piha, but it is not uniformly gray. Found in the subcanopy of montane forests. Usually silent, but periodically makes a loud whistles “skeeo-skeeo skeeo-skeeo” with long intervals between bouts.