Black-headed Apalis

Large songbird with long decurved bill. Male almost completely black, with green and blue metallic sheen on belly, throat, and crown. Female brown above, buff below, with a sparse scaly pattern on chest and belly and a pale eyebrow. Inhabits rainforest and nearby drier forest in northern Queensland (i.e., around Cairns). Call a loud explosive hiss, often repeated. Males display from a prominent upright stump or snag, holding wings high above the head, flashing bright yellow gape, bobbing, raising wings individually, and swaying.

Very local, long-tailed, and social parrot of mountains in northwest Mexico. Feeds in pine and pine-oak forests. Nests colonially in groves of giant aspens, whose soft trunks allow nest cavities to be excavated. Usually found in flocks, of 10–100 birds, less often in scattered pairs; often located by its far-carrying, raucous laughing calls. No similar species in its range; note the red forehead and small red shoulder patches. In flight shows a broad yellow stripe under the wings.

One of the smallest owls in the world, about the size of a sparrow. Patterned with rufous, gray, and white. Most similar in plumage to Flammulated Owl, but note the Elf Owl's white eyebrows, yellow eyes, tiny size, and habitat. Found in brushy woodlands and surrounding desert, where they nest in natural cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes in trees and cacti. Nocturnal; most easily found by listening for call around dusk: a descending whiny chuckle or single mewing note. Migrates south to Mexico for the winter.