Northern Sooty-Woodpecker

Brightly-colored swallow with a deeply forked tail, pale orangish rump, black squared-off undertail coverts, and an incomplete orange collar. The underparts are always streaked, though there is geographical variation, with streaks ranging from fine and sparse to thick and heavy. Juveniles average paler and lack extensive orangish tones; may resemble house-martins but note deeply forked tail. Builds mud nests on mountains, cliffs, and on human structures. Forages over open areas. Frequently gives a short, sparrow-like “twi’wit.” Usually separated from European Red-rumped Swallow by range, but in case of any overlap, should be separated by evenly cinnamon rump (vs. bicolored), dark lores, dark stripe on nape, and bolder streaking on underparts.

Active little bird of scrubby and brushy habitats in drier regions of the Andes and locally in the lowlands of Argentina. Often in pairs, hopping in bushes and weeds and can be difficult to see well. Best identified by bold blackish striping on breast and wispy black crest. Note the base of bill is bright orange (not yellow!), but difficult to see in the field.

Very local and endangered small sparrow of highlands in central Mexico; endemic. Occurs in bunchgrass within areas of open pine woods; often rather elusive. Feeds on the ground in grassy areas and adjacent plowed fields, but sings from prominent grass stalks. Plumage looks much like Song Sparrow, with gray face, black-streaked breast and flanks, and rusty wings. Song Sparrow is larger and bulkier, with less extensive rusty in wings, and almost always lives in wetter habitats.