Russet-capped Tesia

A brown, tree-climbing bird with a strongly curved bill. Appears small-headed; plumage is mostly rufous-brown with buffy streaking on head and neck. Found in tall rainforest, where it is uncommon and locally distributed; often occurs in areas with extensive bamboo thickets. Generally shy and rather difficult to observe. Forages at middle and upper levels, using extraordinary bill to probe into deep bark crevices, bromeliads, and broken bamboo stems. Regularly follows mixed-species flocks. Song is variable, usually an accelerating series of strident whistles. Curved bill should immediately distinguish this species from most other woodcreepers in range. In western and central Amazonia, may overlap with Red-billed Scythebill, from which it may not be safely separable unless singing.

Common and noisy leader of mixed-species flocks in rainforest understory; almost never seen away from flocks. Note hunched posture and tendency to partially flare tail when perched. Adult male’s plumage entirely gray; female rich buff and rufous. Perches conspicuously in lower-to-middle strata, darting out to catch insects flushed by other members of the flock. Dusky-throated Antshrike behaves similarly and is often in the same flocks. Male Cinereous lacks black throat, and female Cinereous is more richly colored than Dusky-throated Antshrike. Calls of the two species are very different.

Brilliantly-colored hummingbird with dark tail and mostly red bill. Fairly common in thorn forest within its limited range. Endemic to Mexico, mainly along the Pacific coast from Guerrero to Oaxaca. Can appear all dark at a distance, but in the right light, male is mostly glistening cobalt blue. Females are less colorful than males, dusky grayish below with prominent pale stripe behind the eye. Similar to Dusky Hummingbird, which occurs on the other side of the Sierra Madre del Sur.