Plumbeous Warbler

Tiny, scarce, and very local hummingbird restricted to humid forest and shade-coffee plantations in foothills of Sierra Madre del Sur, Guerrero. Feeds quietly at middle to high levels in flowering trees. Feeding flight is slow and insectlike, flying with tail cocked and showing off big white to buffy-white band across lower back—easily passed off as a big bee or moth. Male has short, spiky orange crest, green throat, and rusty tail sides. Female rather drab, with dull orange forehead, and dingy whitish underparts.

The largest nuthatch in the world, about the size of a bulbul. Coloration similar to many other nuthatches: gray above and white below, with a thick black line through the eye. Picky in its habitat preferences and as a result generally uncommon or absent through much of its range; requires extensive stands of mature tall pines in foothills and montane regions. Can be quite loud, giving a hoarse chatter reminiscent of a corvid; also gives a clipped fluty whistle.

Very similar to Reed Bunting, but smaller and more slender; also note finer bill, colder pale buffy-brown (instead of rufous) wing coverts, and less extensive streaking on the underparts. Breeding male has a black hood and bright white “moustache” stripe. Female and non-breeding birds are pale sandy brown with a pale but noticeable white “moustache.” Breeds in thickets and vegetation clusters in tundra and winters in reedbeds and tall grassy or brushy areas near water, where often associated with mixed-species flocks. Song is a series of wet buzzy “tsli” notes. “Chlip” calls distinctly sparrow-like.