Streak-headed Honeyeater

Very local in humid evergreen forest of limestone (karst) lowlands and foothills in northern Oaxaca and adjacent Veracruz; endemic. Stays on or near the ground, moving quickly among limestone boulders, popping in and out of caves and crevices. Like most wrens, heard more often than seen, but can be curious; sometimes appears at close range, bobbing and holding its tail cocked. Distinctive: rather chunky with a very long bill, a pale gray face marked with a dark cheek patch, and a rusty breast.

Unusual gray turaco with a long tail and towering crest. The flight is hesitant, and the tail flops up and down. Usually in small groups, which often perch up conspicuously on trees and bushes. The calls include a series of grumpy yelps, and the classic nasal “go-waaay” call. Similar in shape to other go-away-birds, but there is little overlap in range, and easily separated by the uniformly gray coloration.

This bright sparrow has multiple disjunct populations; inland breeders are generally brighter than coastal breeders. Atlantic birds have a duller buffy face and breast with blurry gray streaking; Interior birds are brighter orange with crisper black streaking. Similar to Saltmarsh Sparrow but shows less contrast between the face, throat, and breast and has a shorter blue-gray bill. Inland birds can be confused with LeConte's Sparrow but note clean gray nape and gray, not white, stripe in crown. Conspicuous when singing, otherwise secretive. Its song is a simple hiss like water sizzling in a frying pan. Winters in coastal marshes along most of Atlantic seaboard and Gulf Coast.