Choco Elaenia

The smallest of the six prion species, the fairy prion is often seen making shallow dives or seizing food from the surface in large flocks at sea. It is very similar to other prion species, with a dark “M'' stretching across the back from wingtip to wingtip and a black tip to the upper tail. Fairy prions can be carefully distinguished by their smaller size, poorly defined facial markings, and broad, dark tip to the upper tail. The Fulmar Prion, the most similar species, is separated by a shorter bill that is more massive, especially at the tip.

A common and familiar hummingbird occurring in many different habitats from forest edges to deserts and mangroves to urban areas. Many different subspecies with significant variation in plumage, but all have a glowing green body, a variably white belly, and an orangish lower mandible. Subspecies vary in the presence of blue, green, or white throats and in the extent of the white patch on the belly.

An impressive long-tailed bird of wooded habitats including shade coffee plantations. Usually found in dense vegetation though sometimes found sunning in the open at first light with its tail spread. Note this species long straight narrow bill, brilliant red eyering, gray chest, and chestnut belly. The Mangrove Cuckoo is passingly similar but has a much shorter bill, a black mask, and lacks the red eyering visible on Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo. Secretive, but not shy, this species is often first detected by its voice. Song is a long, rapid, ratcheting “keh-keh-keh…” series that often accelerates and/or decelerates throughout. Other calls include a harsh, “craaa.”