White-naped Brushfinch
Atlapetes albinucha
Fairly large, skulking sparrow of highlands in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Ecuador. Favors dense brushy areas and flower banks in evergreen and pine-oak forests; often in pairs. Usually rather skulking, on or near the ground in shady brush and understory; sings from bushes and trees. Note black head with contrasting white stripe down the middle. In Mexico, throat and underparts are mostly yellow. In Central and South America, yellow throat contrasts with pale grayish breast; these birds were formerly known as Yellow-throated Brushfinch.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Atlapetes albinucha
- Authority
- (d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1838)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Genus
- Atlapetes
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Sooty Shearwater
Ardenna grisea
Medium-sized, dark brown shearwater with silvery flashes on underwings. Narrow wings with quick, deep wingbeats. Widespread and common, especially in the Pacific; can sometimes be seen close to shore. Can be in massive flocks. Extremely similar to Short-tailed Shearwater, but Sooty is heavier and has straighter wings; also look for slightly longer bill and less rounded head. Brown plumage is reminiscent of Flesh-footed Shearwater, but Sooty is narrower-winged and has a smaller, all-dark bill.
Whistling Kite
Haliastur sphenurus
Large sandy-colored raptor. In flight it has a strong underwing pattern, and holds its wings in a bent M-shape. Tail is relatively long and slightly rounded. Calls loudly with a distinctive repeated whistle. Common along coasts and waterways where it scavenges for fish.
Cape White-eye
Zosterops virens
A small, active, mostly yellow-green warbler-like bird with an obvious white eye-ring. The two races have different breast and belly coloration: gray in the south and greenish in the north. Pairs are common in all habitats, where they form a strong component of mixed-species flocks. A sweet, rolling reedy warble that is disjointed and rambling is often the first sign that they are around. The Cape White-eye is similar to the Yellow White-eye, which has more lemon-colored underparts, and the Orange River White-eye, which has peach-colored flanks.
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