Magpie Starling

A fairly average-looking but geographically highly variable lark. The overall coloration ranges from bright rufous in the northeast to dull rufous in much of the range, to brown in many areas, but there is always a distinct pale eyebrow, some streaking on the breast, and rufous in the wings that is conspicuous in flight. Pairs are resident in both arid and moist savanna, preferring softer sandy soils where they walk and run, digging in soft sand for insects and seeds. When breeding, the male sits up on a prominent perch singing a canary-like song that usually starts with a couple of introductory notes and is followed by a jumbled warble of buzzy but melodious notes. The song may include imitations of other bird species, and is sometimes also given in flight. Similar to several other lark species, but more rufous than most, and lacks bright white edges to the tail. Gillett’s Lark is also quite rufous, but Fawn-colored Lark lacks its rufous crown and cheek patch. Fawn-colored Lark also has a longer and slimmer bill than Horsfield’s Bushlark. Similar to Sabota Lark, but Fawn-colored has a plainer face pattern and shows a rufous wing panel.

Medium-sized woodpecker, plain buffy-brown overall with black-and-white barring on the back. Head pattern varies across range but usually shows some combination of yellow and red. Most males on the Caribbean slope of Mexico and into Central America have a solidly red crown and nape. In flight, look for white rump. Common and conspicuous in open woodlands, deciduous forest, and arid scrub from Texas and Oklahoma south to Nicaragua. Often the default woodpecker close to human settlements. Visits backyards and feeders, especially for oranges and jelly. Hybridizes with Red-bellied Woodpecker at the northern limits of its range and with Hoffmann’s Woodpecker at the southern limits. Also compare with the smaller Yucatan Woodpecker.

Small gray gull with red legs. Adult has red bill (younger birds have a darker bill), white head and body, pale gray "silver" wings, which have prominent black and white tips. Abundant across much of New Zealand and coastal Australia, including inland areas around waterways and rivers.