Chiguanco Thrush

Brightly plumaged yellowthroat, restricted to northeast Mexico. Favors reed beds and adjacent marshy vegetation around lakes and ponds, also locally in cane fields. Common Yellowthroat is a common migrant throughout range of Altamira and is usually more numerous. Altamira is brighter yellow overall than Common. Male has yellowish border to black mask and extensively yellow underparts. Female is brighter and more extensively yellow on face and underparts than Common, but can be difficult to distinguish.

A medium-sized, short-tailed sparrow. Extensive plumage variation across range, but always streaky. Usually shows distinctive yellow patch in front of eye, but this can be indistinct or absent on some individuals. Some populations in California and Baja have larger bills and more muted gray streaking; others are very dark and boldly streaked. “Ipswich” Sparrow on the Atlantic Coast is paler with unique buffy-pinkish tones. Almost always found in open areas, from meadows and hayfields to tundra and coastal dunes. Tends to be found in more open habitats than Song Sparrow; also smaller and shorter-tailed.

An unusual weaver with dark upperparts, an orange bib, and a yellow belly. The male shows a yellowish forehead patch that the female lacks. Found very locally in the upper levels of montane forest, usually in pairs that often join mixed-species flocks. Creeps along branches like a nuthatch. Somewhat similar to Forest Weaver, but easily separated by the orange breast. Vocalizations include a “seet-swit” call that is unusual for a weaver and a “radio static” song with a distinctively rollicking rhythm.