Streak-backed Oriole
Icterus pustulatus
Usually the commonest orange-and-black oriole of tropical lowlands and foothills along the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America; also occurs in dry interior valleys. Very rare in the southwestern U.S. Found in tropical woodland and edges, plantations, towns, gardens, and semiopen areas with hedges and scattered trees. Slightly larger and bulkier than slenderer and longer-tailed Hooded Oriole, with straighter bill, more extensive white edgings to the wing feathers, and variable dark streaking on the back (faint in northern birds, heavy in southern birds, and sometimes almost solidly black). Both sexes have black throat patch, lacking on female Hooded. Some immature Streak-backed can be quite dull yellowish but usually still show faint streaks on the back; compare with Bullock's Oriole.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Icterus pustulatus
- Authority
- (Wagler, 1829)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Icteridae
- Genus
- Icterus
Range and habitat
It is native to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and an occasional visitor to the Southwestern United States.<p>Its natural habitat consists of woodland, savanna, grassland and shrubland. It prefers open arid woodland, typically with a strong presence of mimosa.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross
Thalassarche chlororhynchos
Massive seabird, but relatively small and slender for an albatross. Breeds on Gough and Tristan da Cunha islands in South Atlantic, ranging mainly at subtropical latitudes in Atlantic, rarely east to Indian Ocean or further north in Atlantic. On adult, note soft gray hood (whiter on crown), more extensively gray than on cheek of Indian Yellow-nosed. Young birds paler-headed with dark gray smudge around eye; some difficult or impossible to separate from Indian Yellow-nosed. Bill is long, thin, and black, with yellow-orange stripe along the top ridge (culmen) on adults. Also look for thicker black leading edge on underwing to help separate from White-capped Albatross at a distance. Also compare with Gray-headed and Black-browed Albatross; note underwing pattern, bill pattern, head color.
Diademed Tapaculo
Scytalopus schulenbergi
Tiny gray bird with a short, stubby tail. Pale gray forehead and eyebrow form its namesake crown-like pattern, and distinguish the species from similar tapaculos; however, this gray pattern can be reduced and hard to see in females. Found in dense mossy undergrowth in elfin forest near the treeline. Extremely shy and heard far more often than seen; listen for its song, a loud, accelerating series of nasal complaining notes.
Stripe-backed Antbird
Myrmorchilus strigilatus
Long-tailed antbird with brown- and black-streaked upperparts. Note the white eyebrow contrasting with the black eye-line. Males have a black throat and upper breast, while females have a whitish throat and light streaks on the breast. Forages mostly on the ground and sometimes in the understory of dry forest and scrub. Song starts with 1-2 whistles and continues with a series of fast descending notes.
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