Gray-winged Inca-Finch

Small flycatcher with a gray head, an olive-brown back, a whitish throat, and a yellow belly. Note the white eyebrow and broken eye-ring. Occurs in woodland and scrub; migrates to the northeast during the austral winter. The song is a single note followed by a trill: “twie tirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.” The similar White-crested Tyrannulet has a different song and is also slightly larger, with a white crown patch that is often concealed.

Striking medium-sized woodpecker of far western North America. Beautiful plumage with mostly red head and breast and bold white slash on the shoulder. Some show vague pattern of black-and-white on the head, but always more extensive red than Red-naped Sapsucker. Also note limited white mottling on back, and no black on the breast. Juveniles are dark brown on the head and breast. Beware that some hybrids with Red-naped occur, and might be best left unidentified. Breeds in coniferous and mixed forests, descending to lower elevations in winter, as far south as northern Baja. Like other sapsuckers, drills rows of sap wells into tree bark. Listen for irregular drumming (like morse code) and various nasal calls.

This common finch is found in open areas in the Andes from Venezuela to southernmost Argentina. Males are uniform bluish-gray with no distinct markings. Females in the northern part of its range are brown and streaky all over; in the south, females are grayer with fainter streaking. Both sexes have dull pinkish legs. Look for small flocks foraging on the ground in grasslands and open rocky areas, usually at elevations above 3,000 m, but descends much lower in southern South America. Sometimes mixes with other finches.