Scaled Chachalaca

Brown-and-white denizen of bubbling streams and brooks. Look for white underparts with dark streaks, light buffy wash on the rear flanks, and bold white eyebrow. Stays on or near the ground, constantly bobbing its rear end up and down. Males sometime perch up high to sing. A very early migrant: arrives on the breeding grounds in eastern North America before most other warblers have even dreamed of starting migration, and arrives back on the wintering grounds as early as July or August. During the breeding season, favors fast-moving streams with lots of rocks to hop on. In the northern parts of its range, often in steep hemlock-lined ravines. Winters primarily in Middle America and the Caribbean, where it’s slightly less picky about habitat, and can be found around slower-moving water. Very similar to Northern Waterthrush, but whiter base color below, brighter pink legs, and broader white eyebrow. Also look for clean white throat (usually streaked on Northern). Best distinguished by song: several piercing clear whistles followed by a complex jumble of notes. Call note very similar to Northern: a loud, metallic chip.

A large bulbul with a short brown crest, a gray face, a white throat, a greenish-brown back, and a dirty yellow breast and belly. Found at low and middle elevations in primary and secondary forests and forest edges, as well as in overgrown plantations and gardens. Loud, variable song is a cheery and repetitive stream of various notes, including musical “chew” notes and rougher scolds and rattles. Crest is short and weak, separating it from White-throated and Ochraceous Bulbuls. Brown cap and duller underparts separate this species from Yellow-bellied Bulbul.

Extremely rare diving duck. Breeding male has a dark green gloss to the head, but often seems dark-headed in poor lighting. Non-breeding males are duller, but have pale eyes. Females and immatures have dark brown heads and dark eyes. Boldly patterned chestnut-and-white sides unique among ducks; compare the brown sides of Ferruginous Duck and pale sides of Common Pochards, both similar species. Can be difficult to separate from Ferruginous Duck, with which it sometimes hybridizes; note less extensive white wing panels in present species. During the colder months, often found singly or in small groups within non-breeding flocks of more common duck species. Breeds on sheltered, well-vegetated lakes; prefers large open bodies of water in the winter.