Black-chinned Mountain Tanager

Small, compact duck with a long, fan-shaped tail, often held sticking up out of water. Breeding males have a chestnut body, black cap, white cheek, and baby-blue bill. Winter males have a brown body, black cap and white cheek. Females and immature males are brown overall with a dark cap and dark line through the cheek. Often in tight groups bobbing like corks on ponds and bays. Dives to forage on aquatic invertebrates. Not often seen flying.

Large striking flycatcher of tropical and subtropical forest and woodland; also in semi-open areas with taller trees. Perches mainly at mid-upper levels, often in the canopy. Fairly common in most areas, but uncommon and local in West Mexico. Told from widespread Great Kiskadee, which prefers more open and less wooded habitats, by dull olive upperparts (lacking the bright rusty wings and tail of kiskadee) and stouter bill, with a more strongly arched ridge along the top. The two species sound quite different.

A small dark blue-black swallow with rufous-chestnut on its face and a short tail. Except for a black triangular eye-stripe extending to the bill, the entire forehead, chin, throat, and upper breast are rufous-chestnut, without any dark necklace like that of Barn Swallow, the main confusion species. Hill Swallow’s dark upperparts have a blue-green sheen that is only visible when seen up close, while the underparts are dingy white with ashy-gray on the flanks. Juveniles have duller chestnut on the face. Mainly inhabits open areas such as grasslands, reservoirs, and tea estates in the high hills above 500 meters of elevation; very rare at lower elevations. Often seen wheeling and looping in the air after insects, with a swift flight action reminiscent of a Barn Swallow with a shorter tail.