Puerto Rican Woodpecker

Small, brownish bird with a long, spiky tail. Inhabits grassland and dense scrub at high elevations from western Venezuela to northern Argentina; southern populations were formerly split as Puna Canastero. Rather nondescript; plain brown underparts and dark streaks on upperparts help distinguish it from other similar canasteros. Also note some rufous in wings and tail. Sometimes shows tiny orange chin patch. Forages on the ground, where it is hard to see, but occasionally ascends to a more open perch to rest or sing. Song is a fast, high pitched, rattling trill, starting a bit slower and accelerating.

Very small owl of desert and western foothills of the Andes; no other pygmy-owl in its range. Overall plumage tones vary from brown to gray-brown, rarely rusty brown. Often active in daytime. Fairly common but easily overlooked, although persistent tooting song and presence of mobbing small birds can draw attention. Found in woodlands, hedges with taller trees, gardens, and locally in more open country. Ranges low to high, from canopy of tallest trees to low in thickets; sometimes perches on roadside wires.

Compact raptor. Adults distinctive, all pale gray with thin white bars on underparts. Tail banded black and white. Juvenile is brown and streaky. Juveniles are similar to juvenile Broad-winged and Red-shouldered Hawks, but have bolder face pattern, paler underwings, and a small white patch at the base of the uppertail. Found in shrubby riparian woodland. Usually seen singly.