Black-throated Jay

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.

A small, grayish-brown hornbill with a pale brow, an obvious casque above the bill (larger in males), and a dual-toned black-and-yellow bill. In flight, note the pale edges on the wings and tail, as well as long central tail feathers. When flying, beats its wings rapidly followed by a short glide. Prefers open woodlands, plantations, gardens, and parks in cities where it feeds on large, fruiting trees. Usually seen in pairs or small groups. The calls include a series of short “kek-kek-kek” notes given in flight and a squealing, hawklike high-pitched “kieeeeu” when perched.

Small tanager found in semiopen woodlands, savannas, and pastures with scattered trees often in association with mixed-species flocks. In males note the yellow eyes contrasting with its black hood and white forehead. Otherwise mostly gray above and white below. Females lack the black cap and have a bicolored bill, which is all black in males, and generally look duller overall.