Rufous Babbler

Slender-billed, glossy black bird of humid forest, woodland, thickets, and overgrown clearings; shape and habits like Gray Catbird of North America. Common on Cozumel Island, but generally uncommon to rare on the Yucatan mainland. Often sings from a prominent perch, but otherwise rather retiring and easily overlooked, mainly at low levels in bushes; also hops on the ground, flipping and fanning its tail. Told from other black songbirds in its geographic range by habits and slender bill.

Long-necked “snake bird” found in wooded swamps, marshes, and ponds. Males are black with white on wing; females similar but with brownish neck and head. Dives underwater and spears fish with dagger-like bill. Often swims with only head and neck out of water. Like cormorants, perches out in the open to spread wings and dry feathers. Similar shape to cormorants but even longer-tailed with a more sharply pointed bill. Occasionally soars.

Dull brownish leaf warbler. Brown above with brownish-yellow underparts. Extremely similar in appearance to Radde’s Warbler, but Yellow-streaked has a more contrastingly pale brow stripe, finer bill, and fine yellow streaks on the breast. The breast streaks themselves are often not visible, instead appearing as a faint yellow wash from a distance. Dusky Warbler is somewhat similar but is much browner overall with a darker brow stripe and less contrast between upper- and underparts. Breeds in subalpine shrubbery and descends into foothills to winter in similar habitat. Song is a series of cascading tinkling, buzzy notes. Gives metallic “tinks”.