Great Rufous Sparrow

Large tanager with a strong bill. It has a rather dirty blue-gray body with darker blue wings. Similar to Blue-gray Tanager, but duller overall and lacks the Blue-gray’s white shoulder; also similar to Azure-shouldered Tanager, but without the bluish shoulder and dark patch in front of the eye. Occurs in a variety of habitats from forest edges to agricultural areas, urban parks, and gardens.

A sleek forest bird that sometimes ventures into gardens and parks in search of flowers and fruit; prefers areas with palms. The adult is distinctive—clothed in black except for patches of yellow on lower belly, shoulders, and rump. No similar species occur within its range. Immatures are muddled yellow, orange, and olive, developing adult plumage over the course of a year. This plumage resembles that of female and young Baltimore Orioles, a scarce migrant and winter visitor to Hispaniola. Similarly attired Baltimore Orioles can be distinguished by their orange underparts and white wingbars. The song is a rapid jumble of squeaky and metallic notes. Calls include a buzzy “jrrrt” and a metallic “zhwee.”

Unmistakable magpie with a black cap, sandy-brown body, white throat, blue wings, and long blue tail. Highly gregarious, gathers in noisy family flocks giving repetitive “krrr-krrr” calls interspersed with rattles. Usually found in open woodlands with grassy clearings, including orchards and olive groves, but prefers oak woodlands.