Olive-backed Flowerpecker

Small snow-white heron with slender dark bill, blackish legs, and yellowish feet ("golden slippers"). Breeding adult has 2 long wispy head plumes and a spray of white plumes ("aigrettes") on the lower back. Inhabits a wide variety of wetlands: lakes, rivers, marshes, estuaries—almost anywhere with small fish. Occurs as singles or small loose groups; nests and roosts communally. Distinctive within its range, but compare with larger Great and Intermediate Egrets, stockier Cattle Egret, and white morph reef herons.

Large antbird of bamboo stands in river edge forest. Males are dark gray with bright white wing bars and a darker blackish crest that is raised when agitated; females appear two-toned: orange above, with creamy white face and underparts. Both sexes have a red eye. Primarily found in bamboo, but occasionally found in other dense habitats, like cane thickets and heliconias along streams. Song is a descending, accelerating series of whistled notes, with a noticeable gap between the first note and the rest; “TEW … tew, tew, tew, tewtutututu”.

Distinctive but variable: all plumages are some bold combination of black, white, and gray. Shows considerable variation in plumage across the world, but never has a clear, thin and contrasting eye-brow like White-browed or Japanese Wagtail. Occurs in varied open habitats, from wild grassy areas and wetlands to paved car parks and grassy lawns. Usually seen as singles, pairs, or small groups walking and running around, pumping the long, white-sided tail up and down. Identified easily in flight by its loud, thick and distinctive “tsee-tsee’ call.