Tucuman Mountain Finch

Striking large laughingthrush of broadleaf hilly and montane forests in central-southern China and far northern Vietnam. Look for bright red wings and tail, pale silver-gray crown and cheek patches, and extensive dark throat and chest. Compare with orange crown, paler whitish cheeks, and less extensive dark throat of Red-tailed Laughingthrush, which overlaps marginally with this species in range, but tends not to occur in the same areas. Shy, often staying in dense bushes; forages in pairs or small flocks close to the ground. Gives a wavering whistle: “dooEEEEooo.”

Medium-sized, pale gray duck with a pink bill. In flight, shows a green patch that is surrounded by white. Prefers saltwater wetlands such as natural saltpans and man-made saltworks but sometimes also uses freshwater wetlands. Similar to Red-billed Duck, but without a dark cap, and with paler overall coloration. Pink bill separates Cape Teal from all other ducks and grebes in the region.

A chocolate-brown, short-tailed thrush-like bird of clear, flowing streams. No other stream bird in its range is dark brown all over (adult) or dark brown mottled with pale (juvenile). Plunges into streams, swimming and diving to capture prey like a seabird. Seldom found more than a few feet away from water. Uses any moving water so long as it is clear and open--even hot-spring fed pools in the dead of winter. Song a rich and variable series of trilling and rattling notes. Often gives a buzzy “zeet” in flight.