Piping Hornbill

A small to medium-sized bird of lowland and foothill forest interior. Slate-gray above with white spots in the wing, white below, black face and silver-gray bill. Undertail is white with a black band in the base and thin black line at the tip. Forages actively at all levels. Unique plumage. Hooded monarch also has a white belly but lacks the gray back and spots in the wing. Voice, high-pitch whistles or nasal, buzzy calls.

Very local but fairly common in highland marshes of central Mexico; endemic. Favors extensive reed beds bordering lakes and adjacent bushes near water. Male is distinctive, with black mask blending into dark greenish upperparts (lacks pale border to mask of Common Yellowthroat, which occurs in same areas); also note extensively yellow underparts and dark legs. Female is darker overall than female Common Yellowthroat, with dark (not pinkish) legs. Voice subtly distinctive.

Chunky babbler with a melon-shaped body, a long bill, and large dark eyes. Note pale blue patch around the eye separated from clean white throat by a dark line. Inhabits lowland and foothill forests with dense tangles and thickets. Forages on or just above the ground, either singly or in pairs or small flocks. Song is lovely and variable; usually consists of long pleasant whistles, occasionally interrupted by shorter notes.