Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker

A “classic” Celeus woodpecker, medium-sized and rufous overall with a shaggy crest. Unlike the similar Scale-breasted and Waved Woodpeckers, Chestnut Woodpecker mostly or entirely lacks black markings on the body and wings. Sexes are similar, but males have a red mustache. The color of the crest varies across subspecies: some birds have a contrasting golden crest, while others have a plain rufous crest like the rest of the body. Widespread but uncommon across much of northern South America, where it inhabits the mid-levels of lowland forests and edges, especially around water.

Small brown-and-white shearwater with messy appearance. Especially note smudgy face and neck. Found in warmer ocean waters off the west coast of North America, often close to land. Found singly or in small flocks, sometimes with other shearwaters. Most similar to Manx Shearwater but ranges do not usually overlap; also look for smudgier head, longer bill, and darker undertail coverts on Black-vented. Also compare with much larger Pink-footed Shearwater.

A graceful aerial feeder found over a wide variety of open habitats, especially near water, including marshes and towns. Often chooses exposed perches including power and telephone lines in villages. Commonly found in flocks of up to twenty birds, sometimes mixing with other swallows and martins. The adult male is entirely glossy purple-blue and is inseparable in the field from male Purple Martins. The male Caribbean Martin can be distinguished by its bright white belly. Female and immature Cuban Martins resemble females and immatures of both Purple and Caribbean Martin. Purple Martin in such plumages can be identified by a scaly breast pattern and often fine streaks on the belly, which is lacking on female and immature Cuban Martins. Female Cuban Martins are probably not safely separable from Caribbean Martin, though on average the Cuban Martin has more restricted brown on chest. Note that Caribbean and Purple Martins are not present in this species’ range from March to September, which can help eliminate confusing species. Calls include a harsh “churr,” a buzzy “zwick-zwick,” and a musical buzzy burbling.