Mangrove Pitta

A somewhat small woodland bird that moves rather deliberately as it feeds on fruits and flowers and the occasional insect. Occupies wide range of forests from pines to mangroves. Brilliant male looks like a sunrise with a black-and-white head; no truly similar species on Hispaniola. Females head pattern is a dull version of the males, but note streaking below. Calls are a high and thin single “tsee” or rapid “tsi-tsi-tsi-tsi-tsi.”

Small tan flycatcher of river beaches; terrestrial, or perches on low shrubs. Tan above, lighter whitish below, with a black tail with white outer tail feathers. Overlaps with the similar and often more common Drab Water Tyrant. Compared to that species, Little Ground-Tyrant has lighter underparts, no facial pattern (unlike the black eye line and pale eyebrow of Drab Water Tyrant) and white outer tail feathers contrasting with black inner tail feathers (as opposed to uniformly brown). They often flush and move in low flight along river banks, exposing their diagnostic tail patterns. Prefers wide, open beaches and mudflats along rivers to steep river banks. Known to wander when not breeding, when it can be found in a variety of open habitats.

Medium-sized owl typically found in mountainous regions with mixed conifers and oaks. Overall brown with bold white spots on belly and back. Black eyes, unlike most other owls; main confusion species is Barred Owl. Spotted is well-named, with much more obvious spots on chest and belly than Barred Owl, and lacks distinct vertical stripes. Also note voice: one hoot, followed by a pair of hoots, followed by a final single hoot. Two separate populations: birds along the Pacific coast and the Sierra Nevada average darker, richer brown than birds further south and inland.