Burchell's Starling

A perky, upright wren restricted to alpine regions in the South Island of New Zealand. Has a very short tail and rounded wings, but distinctive long legs and toes. Male is a mossy green above and pale gray below, with noticeable yellow flanks and a creamy eyebrow. Female has duller plumage. Stance is often erect; constantly bobs up and down, flicking its wings, before hopping and running. Flies very short distances. Seen out in the open in rocky boulder fields, hence its common New Zealand name of “rock wren.” Gives a high-pitched three-note call which travels well in the open alpine terrain. Pairs will sometimes duet.

Small parrot, widespread but uncommon across the lowlands of northern South America. Difficult to see well unless a flock drops into a clay lick; otherwise, most often detected by voice as they pass over in high-flying flocks. Overall green with some brownish or yellowish tones on the head and dark forehead. Note the blue and red shoulder; the red especially can be limited or completely hidden. In flight, shows bright red underwing covert and a short, squared-off tail. Compare with the slightly larger Cobalt-winged Parakeet.

Typical small sparrowhawk with a gray or brown back and pale underparts. Females are much larger than males and show reddish barring below. Smaller male is pale-chested. Found in open forest, scrub, plantations, and even villages. Usually seen sitting on an open perch or dashing through the trees; rarely soars. Small, pale male is distinctive, but female and brownish immature very hard to separate from some Madagascar Sparrowhawks. On Frances’s Sparrowhawk, look for fine bars on the undertail, reddish chest barring, a single dark stripe down the center of the throat, and a short central toe.