Socorro Parakeet

Striking small seabird of cold subantarctic waters; some birds range farther north in winter (mainly May–August). Despite the name, its bold white belly is the most obvious feature that separates Black-bellied from slightly smaller Wilson’s Storm-Petrel. Most birds have a black stripe bisecting the white belly patch, but the stripe is often hard to see. Flight style often eye-catching; splashes belly down in the water and kicks its feet to change direction. Compare with the very similar White-bellied Storm-Petrel of subtropical waters, which occurs mainly to the north of Black-bellied’s range.

Small, stocky flycatcher with broad, flat bill. Occupies canopy and midstory of forest edges, gardens, and tall second growth in humid lowlands. Has gray crown, pale yellow underparts, and yellow edgings to wing feathers (but not wingbars). Very similar to a few other species of flycatchers, particularly Yellow-margined and Yellow-olive Flycatchers; best distinguishing features include its pale eye, lack of a yellow patch at the base of the primaries, and voice. Call is a loud, quickly rising whistle: “tuee?”, higher and cleaner than similar calls from species like Brownish Twistwing and Blue-backed Manakin, but not as high as the “twee-twee” of Purple-throated Euphonia.

An active little bird that inhabits reeds and tall grasses in low-lying wetlands. Flicks its tail often to reveal white feathers with black edges and tips. The male has a black hood with a neat border along the collar, white underparts, and a red patch on the breast. Its back is black in the breeding season and brown with streaks in the nonbreeding season. The female is grayish-brown with an indistinct supercilium and a white throat. Both sexes similar to Common Stonechat, but female White-tailed Stonechat is paler, while the male appears whiter below and shows the white in the tail when flicked or in flight.