Green-backed Tit

Medium-sized, stocky shorebird found almost exclusively on coastal mudflats during migration, seldom inland. Distinctive adult in breeding plumage has a brick-orange upperwing patch, blackish back, and chest with black mottling. Duller nonbreeding and juvenile plumages are grayish brown above, white below, with grayish mottling in neck and upper breast. Smaller Red Knot much paler in nonbreeding plumage and has shorter bill. Flight call a sharp, whistled “kweet-kweet.”

An elusive, small songster of dense montane forest undergrowth on Flores. Male has dull blue-gray upperparts with paler gray chest and sides. Female has warm brown upperparts with more rufous on the wings, rump, and pale rufous under the tail. Both sexes have white throat and mid-belly, and a thin, white eyebrow. Female similar to Lesser Shortwing, but Flores has a gray chest. Song is a jumble of whistles and scratchy notes. Also gives a loud “tak!” call.

A large, sturdy gull of East Asia. Adults have a fairly pale gray back, pale eye, and dull pinkish legs. Takes four years for immatures to progress from mostly brown to fully white and gray adult plumage; intermediate plumages are often mottled and messy. Extremely variable plumage can make identification tricky. Occurs inland and along the coast, frequenting river mouths, harbors, beaches, lakes, and ponds. Often forms flocks with other gulls. Back color of adults generally a shade darker than that of American Herring Gull. Very similar to Mongolian Gull, and separation is tricky, but has a larger head and bill; adults also generally have pinker legs.