Brown Firefinch

Small, rather drab, crested flycatcher of arid scrubby woodland in the interior highlands of southwest Mexico. Mostly retiring and easily overlooked unless singing. Looks similar to several species of Empidonax flycatchers (such as Dusky Flycatcher) and even jerks its tail upwards like Dusky, but note the spiky crest (can be held flattened), bright pinkish-orange underside to the bill, and voice (does not have a “whit” call like most Empidonax).

An often conspicuous resident of a wide variety of habitats including woodlands, scrub, and suburbia. Its long, white-tipped tail and largely gray plumage eliminate all other species except for Northern Mockingbird. Unlike Bahama, the Northern Mockingbird has large white patches on wings (most easily seen in flight), white outer tail feathers, and is unstreaked below, except in immature plumage. Streaking on young Northern Mockingbirds is mostly on chest, not concentrated on sides, as it is in the Bahama Mockingbird. Song is a series of phrases, each repeated several times; contrary to its name, it does not mimic other species.

Tiny, with long wings and a short greenish bill with a small red base. Face and underparts are plain slaty gray on male, and buffy to whitish on female and juvenile. Adults have plain flanks and boldly barred undertail coverts. Juvenile has barred flanks; compare to similar Baillon’s Crake. Breeds in freshwater wetlands with extensive emergent vegetation, and spends the non-breeding season in a wide range of marshy habitats. Often favors deeper-water aquatic plant stands than other rails and crakes, clambering about nimbly amongst the vegetation. Usually retiring and rarely seen, but can be confiding. Males give a long song that starts with a series of “qwek” notes that eventually accelerates and tapers off; females respond with a descending trill with a similar quality.