Volcano Swiftlet

One of the iconic birds of the Andes. Fairly large, significantly larger and chunkier than a thrush. Found in cloud forest at middle elevations, most often at a dawn display site where males make piglike squeals and jump and dance for females. Sometimes seen elsewhere in the forest, especially at fruiting trees. Males can be either brilliant crimson or orange, always with black wings and broad silver tertials, orange legs, and puffy rounded crest. Female duller brown with smaller crest; note staring pale eye. Nests on large rocks or cliff faces. Only similar species is Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, but no range overlap.

Slender shorebird known for spinning frantically on water to stir up small invertebrates. Note needle-thin bill, longer and thinner than other phalaropes. Breeding females are brighter and more contrasting than males: note gray cap, peachy-orange neck with broad black stripe, and gray-and-rufous back. Males are duller with plainer grayish-brown upperparts and a less distinct dark neck stripe. Nonbreeding birds are very pale gray above and white below with a rather plain face and yellowish legs. Juveniles show crisp buffy edges on wing feathers. Prefers shallow ponds, marshes, and lakes, sometimes in large flocks. Can mix with Red-necked Phalarope; Wilson’s is larger, lankier, and longer-billed. Feeds frantically, more often on land than other phalaropes. Never on the open ocean. Most common in western North America; uncommon to rare in the east. Winters as far south as Tierra del Fuego.

Large hummingbird found only in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Adult male has a glittering green throat, black breast, and violet tail. Female is pale gray underneath, and reveals a striking orange, black, and white pattern when she spreads her tail. Immature male has a dark, vertical stripe or blotch on throat and breast. Male is most similar to Green-throated Carib, but black is on the breast, not the belly, and tail is violet. Female has a similar plumage pattern to female Puerto Rican Emerald, but is larger with a longer, thicker, and more curved bill. Widespread and found in a variety of habitats including scrub, light woodland, and gardens. Less common in dense forest. Puerto Rican Mango and Hispaniolan Mango used to be considered the same species and were called Antillean Mango.