Mountain Serpent-Eagle

Small seed-eating bird of humid tropical lowlands; fairly common. Found in grassy and weedy areas and forest edges, often in same places as slightly larger Thick-billed Seed-Finch. In pairs or small flocks, mixing readily with Morelet's Seedeaters and other seed-eating birds. Note stubby bill (unlike Thick-billed Seed-Finch) and plain brownish olive plumage of female (not rich brown like seed-finch). Males in Mexico and most of Central America are black. In southern Central America and South America males have variable amounts of white on the underparts and rump, hence the name.

A small pale lark with a short, finch-like bill. Usually seen foraging on the ground in open country with shrubs, grasses, and extensive bare soil. Stays low to the ground and runs quickly. The extremely variable song is made up of a long series of phrases containing a mix of many different types of notes, often including imitations of other bird species. Sings shorter song phrases than Turkestan Short-toed Lark, with shorter pauses between them. Visually, can be difficult to separate from Greater Short-toed Lark; best features are the heavily streaked breast and flanks and the lack of a well-defined eyebrow. Also extremely similar to Turkestan Short-toed Lark. Separation in overlap zone is difficult and poorly understood, and is complicated by both geographic and individual variation. Mediterranean is slightly more rufous overall, with broader streaks on the breast.

Tiny flycatcher with a shortish dark bill, dark legs, and a long slender tail. It has an olive-gray back, a pale face, a gray cap, and is pale yellow below. Note the white eyerings and two pale wingbars. Subspecies vary in plumage intensity. Found in the canopy of humid forests and woodlands where it often joins mixed-species flocks. The song is a quiet series of three notes “pew-pew-puuit.”