Fischer's Sparrow-Lark

A plain gray-brown chat that has rusty ear patches and a rufous rump and outer tail feathers that outline an inverted black “T” pattern on the tail. The juvenile is spotted and scaled buff. The species occurs in a broad range of habitats, but favors rocky areas, gullies, outcrops, and buildings, where it often perches conspicuously. It drops to the ground or into a bush to feed on invertebrates and frequently flicks both wings simultaneously and lifts its tail. The similar Sickle-winged Chat has longer legs, a more conspicuous eye-ring, a creamy-orange rump, and a different tail pattern; Brown-tailed Chat also has a different tail pattern.

Attractive but often rather local tern of southern South America. Favors shallow coastal waters, but also ranges inland locally along rivers and lakes. Often associates with other terns on beaches and at river mouths. All plumages have diagnostic white head with narrow blackish mask and reddish legs. Breeding adult has an orange bill with a black-and-yellow tip. Nonbreeding birds have a black bill with a small yellow tip. Immature birds have a black bill with little or no pale tip.

Spectacular, broad-winged, short-tailed hawk of lowland tropical forest. Usually seen soaring in mid-late morning or perched quietly in the forest canopy. Basically unmistakable, but beware of rare albino forms of other hawks. Plumage is white overall with black wingtips and a black tail band. Immature has more black on wings, as do adults of populations in southern Central America. Note dark eyes and pale grayish base to the bill (versus yellow on most hawks).