Pied Coucal

Centropus ateralbus

A long-tailed, thick-billed, uniquely patterned bird with dark blue wings, tail, and belly and creamy neck, chest, and head. Note the obvious dark cap and mask. Found in most habitats, most commonly in lowland forests and scrub. Often flushed from trackside vegetation. Otherwise inconspicuous, but regularly feeds on the ground. Unique within its range. Voice includes a series of accelerating hoots, almost identical to someone blowing over the top of a glass bottle.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Centropus ateralbus
Authority
Lesson, RP, 1826
Order
Cuculiformes
Family
Cuculidae
Genus
Centropus

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Other Birds

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

Fairly small gull, common and widespread throughout most of North America. Breeding adults are white-headed with a bold black ring around the bill; nonbreeding adults have smudgy brown markings on the head. Note pale eye and yellow legs. Immatures are mottled brownish overall; note pink bill with black tip. Found along lakes, rivers, ponds, and beaches. More common inland than most other gull species, and quite fond of parking lots and urban areas. Often in flocks. Most similar to Short-billed Gull, but larger and larger-billed. Immatures of the two species are especially difficult to differentiate, but Ring-billed is usually more coarsely mottled.

Sooty Oystercatcher

Sooty Oystercatcher

Haematopus fuliginosus

Heavy-set shorebird with entirely black plumage and long, thick reddish bill. It has a distinctive fleshy red or yellow eye-ring and very thick pale-pink feet and legs. Exclusively coastal, where it can be found walking around on the edge of rocky headlands, on rock shelves, and along rocky beaches on small islands. Typically found in pairs or small groups. Its call is a loud slow whistled "chew", or when agitated a rapidly repeated "squeaky toy" call.

Band-tailed Pigeon

Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata

Large dove found in mature montane forests from the western U.S. and Canada into Middle and South America. Soft blue-gray above and unique purplish-gray below, with white crescent on the nape. Yellow feet. Bill is yellow with black tip in northern populations, all yellow in southern ones. Forms large flocks in coniferous forests and montane areas where it feeds on seeds and fruits. When it takes off, wings make loud clapping sound.

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