Kolombangara Leaf Warbler

Medium-sized shorebird with bright yellow legs. Plumage is essentially identical to Greater Yellowlegs: gray upperparts with white speckling, streaky neck, and white belly. Proportions are most important for identification. Lesser is smaller overall with shorter, narrower, straighter bill, shorter neck, more rounded head, and smaller chest. Forages actively on mudflats and in shallow pools and marshes, often in loose mixed flocks with Greater Yellowlegs. Somewhat more likely to be found in smaller, marshier habitats than Greater, but much overlap. Listen for soft, whistled “tew” calls, typically only one or two notes, unlike the stronger series of notes from Greater.

Medium-sized, dark-rumped storm-petrel with a long, deeply notched tail and grayish tones to the plumage. Usually flies fairly directly with light fluttering wingbeats; can be stronger in windy conditions. Look for pale stripe on underwing (not always obvious). Distinctive within limited range, exclusively off California and northern Baja. Rarely seen from land. Gathers in large flocks, often resting together on the water; can be mixed with other storm-petrel species.

A small and difficult to identify woodcreeper, widespread but often rare and seldom encountered. Smaller than most other woodcreeper species in range (slightly larger than Olivaceous Woodcreeper), with a relatively short, straight bill and weakly marked brown plumage. Note the faint pale streaking on the head and spots on the throat. Best found and identified by voice, a fast, even trill lasting between 1-2 seconds and usually heard at dawn.