African Stonechat

Handsome blue-and-black jay of tropical forests, woodlands, and gardens endemic to west Mexico. Usually in small groups, which can be noisy and conspicuous or very quiet and easily overlooked; often with Yellow-winged Caciques. Around the town of San Blas (in Nayarit, Mexico), appreciably larger Purplish-backed Jay occurs at southern end of its range (and northern end of San Blas Jay’s range). Purplish-backed is deep purplish blue on back and tail, not strikingly two-toned blue-and-black like San Blas Jay, and has bright yellow legs. Voices also very different. Purplish-backed occurs in mangroves and adjacent woodlands in and around town while San Blas Jay occurs in foothill forest of coffee plantations south of town.

Tiny, short-billed hummingbird of forests, forest edges, and savanna woodlands. Both sexes are green on the back with a white band across the rump, but males have glossy pink throat and a deeply forked tail. Females have a white throat, a short tail, and cinnamon flanks and undertail.

Big, fat, rather social and conspicuous sparrow. Endemic in highlands of Mexico. Occurs mainly in dry bunch grass within open pine woods. Feeds mainly on the ground but perches readily on rocks and in pine trees. Usually in groups that sometimes mix with other sparrows. Note the bold white eyebrow, rusty-brown cap, dark mask, and plain pale gray underparts. No similar species in its limited range.