White-throated Jay
Cyanolyca mirabilis
Small, beautifully patterned jay. Very local in humid evergreen and pine-evergreen forest of mountains; endemic to southwestern Mexico. Usually travels in pairs or small groups, at times in association with larger and more conspicuous Unicolored Jay. Forages at all levels, usually well hidden in dense vegetation. Plumage dark blue overall with striking black-and-white head pattern. Often best located by voice.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cyanolyca mirabilis
- Authority
- Nelson, 1903
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Corvidae
- Genus
- Cyanolyca
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Sickle-winged Guan
Chamaepetes goudotii
Large chickenlike bird, but small for a guan. Distinctive: mostly brown with contrasting rufous belly and bright blue facial skin around red eye. Found in subtropical zones on both slopes of Andes, from Colombia to Bolivia. Rather unobtrusive and quiet; can be difficult to spot as it perches in the middle and upper levels of the forest. Often in pairs or small groups.
Bismarck Munia
Lonchura melaena
A handsome small finch that appears very dark with a bright white belly patch. Head and chest black, back rich hazelnut brown, tail golden-orange. Undertail very black. Flanks scaled black-and-white. Found in most patches of tall grass up to 1200 meters of elevation. Other munias occur in the same areas, but Bismarck’s bold color patterns make for simple identification. Most common call is a chorus of soft “peep” and “see” notes, but overall relatively quiet.
Blackstart
Oenanthe melanura
A small wheatear. Overall lead-gray with a prominent black tail which it fans continuously; often hops on the ground. Lives in rocky deserts and semi-arid zones; often found in desert wadis near trees and bushes and sometimes around human habitation. Can be very tame and bold. Its song is a beautiful, melancholic series of flutey syllables.
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