Madagascar Cuckoo

A big, conspicuous, colorful barbet of dry country with termite mounds. Both sexes have a black forehead and males also have a black throat patch. Usually in pairs and small groups. Separated from D’Arnaud’s Barbet by the unspeckled yellow face, and from Red-and-yellow Barbet by the lack of red on the head. The song is a long series of the same rollicking musical phrase repeated over and over, often given as a duet; similar to the song of Red-and-yellow Barbet, but higher-pitched and faster. 

Small, green toucan found only in remote regions along the east slope of the Andes in northern Peru. Most of its cloud forest habitat is currently inaccessible without a serious expedition, so few birders have ever encountered this rare species. Plumage is mostly green with a red rump and tail tip, a white throat, anda blue breast-band. Distinguished from Blue-banded Toucanet by the yellow (not white) streak above the eye and the vertical white stripe at the base of the bill. Mostly black bill and blue breast-band help separate it from Southern Emerald-Toucanet and Chestnut-tipped Toucanet.

Small skulking wren of lowlands and foothills in West Mexico. Plumage rather plain, with bold white eyebrow and diffuse stripes on sides of neck. Compare with brighter rufous and buffy Happy Wren, which also has a more distinct black mustache stripe. Sinaloa Wren favors thorn forests, plantations, and thickets, often in slightly more open habitats than Happy Wren. Heard more often than seen. Song is a powerful series of rich whistles, quite different from sweeter Happy Wren song. Scolding calls vary, but does not make “comb trill” of Happy.