Glow-throated Hummingbird

Huge brown pelican of the Humboldt Current; locally common along the coast and over inshore waters. Often seen perched on rocks, jetties, and scavenging at fishing harbors. Feeds by plunge diving from low heights, often with masses of other feeding birds such as cormorants, boobies, and terns. Distinctive in south of range, but in north occurs with appreciably smaller Brown Pelican, which lacks the big whitish upperwing panel of Peruvian, has a less colorful bill without a yellow base (on adults), and lacks the turquoise-blue pouch seen on Peruvian Pelican.

Common piculet of coastal forests. Note short-tailed profile, large feet, and cone-shaped bill. Found in mangroves, gardens, abandoned plantations, and disturbed areas. Creeps quietly through vine tangles and bores into dead twigs at lower and middle levels. Similar to Golden-spangled and White-barred Piculets, but Arrowhead has chevron-shaped spots (not barring) on the breast and belly, and is strictly confined to coastal habitats.

Plump, medium-sized shorebird with very long bill. Extremely similar to Long-billed Dowitcher, and often flocks with it. Best distinguished by voice: a rapid series of notes, “tu-tu-tu”, lower-pitched and almost always in a series, unlike single piercing “keek!” of Long-billed. At all ages, look for subtle structural differences: Short-billed averages flatter-backed, slightly shorter-billed, and slightly shorter, especially noticeable when in a mixed flock. Breeding birds are intricately patterned with a variable amount of orange on the underparts. Short-billed usually has some white on the belly, and paler upperparts with bolder golden and white markings. Also look for messy and extensive spotting on sides, not sparsely barred like Long-billed Dowitcher. Nonbreeding plumage is brownish-gray overall with a paler belly; extremely similar to Long-billed but averaging slightly paler and more patterned, especially on the breast and sides. Juveniles are easiest to identify: look for bright golden markings on the tertials and scapulars. Short-billed breeds in grassy wetlands and tundra, and can be found in a variety of wetland habitats in migration and winter. A very early fall migrant, with southbound birds appearing in the U.S. by late June. Usually in flocks, feeding actively like a sewing machine. Tends to favor saltwater marshes, beaches, and mudflats. Somewhat less likely in freshwater habitats than Long-billed, but much overlap, especially the hendersoni subspecies that migrates primarily through the center of the continent.