Hooded Berryeater

Large seabird of inshore waters, often seen from beaches but not usually up close. Adult has streaky brown-and-white neck and bright blue feet. Immature has dusky brownish head and neck and grayish feet. All plumages told from Brown Booby by white at the base and tip of the tail. Typically flies and soars fairly high up. Feeds by spectacular, steep-angle plunge-dives. Breeds locally in colonies on offshore islands, nesting on the ground. Most well-known from the Galapagos but occurs extensively along the Pacific coast of Middle and South America, especially in the Gulf of California.

Medium-sized gull with medium-gray upperparts. Breeding plumage shows black head with thick white eye arcs, large white spots on black wingtips, and deep red bill and legs. White underparts are often tinged with pink. Nonbreeding plumage has partial black hood and dark bill and legs. Juveniles have browner upperparts. Breeds around lakes and marshes in the prairies of north-central North America. Migrates through the center of the continent to and from wintering grounds in South America, where it is primarily found on the coast and offshore. Gathers in huge flocks in migration and winter. Most similar to Laughing Gull, which is slightly larger and lankier with a longer bill. Franklin’s shows thicker eye arcs and larger white spots on wingtips.

Distinctive finch with a disjunct distribution. Males have an olive-green back with black streaks, and a contrasting face pattern with a broad white eyebrow and a black mask. Note the bicolored bill. Female lacks the bold head pattern. Inhabits well-preserved tall natural grasslands with scattered shrubs. Song is a very high, thin “tziieep...tsi-tsíp...zz-tzzz...”