Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail

Large and spectacular pheasant found in forested areas. Variable across its large range, but the long-tailed male has either white or silvery-gray upperparts with a black crest, breast, and belly. Northern males are whiter above than their southern counterparts, though they still have some light black markings on the wings and back. Females are brownish overall with a much shorter tail. Both sexes have bright red face and legs. Hybridizes extensively with Kalij Pheasant where ranges overlap, producing variable intermediate hybrids.

Handsome blue-and-black jay of tropical forests, woodlands, and gardens endemic to west Mexico. Usually in small groups, which can be noisy and conspicuous or very quiet and easily overlooked; often with Yellow-winged Caciques. Around the town of San Blas (in Nayarit, Mexico), appreciably larger Purplish-backed Jay occurs at southern end of its range (and northern end of San Blas Jay’s range). Purplish-backed is deep purplish blue on back and tail, not strikingly two-toned blue-and-black like San Blas Jay, and has bright yellow legs. Voices also very different. Purplish-backed occurs in mangroves and adjacent woodlands in and around town while San Blas Jay occurs in foothill forest of coffee plantations south of town.

Big and chunky rainforest cotinga with a long tail. Found in the canopy of montane forests where it can be locally common, but hard to see. Striking plumage with a black head, yellow collar and belly, and a chestnut back with black and yellow edging to the wings. The iris is dark brown. Females are similar but duller. The song is a distinctive and far-carrying explosive whistled “wreep-wrepoo.”