Arabian Serin

Large odd-looking bird with a long tail often swung from side to side or even held cocked when agitated. Usually sits quietly in the midstory and is easy to miss. The body is blue and green, with a black mask, and an orange cap and belly. Normally vocalizes at dawn and dusk an owl-like “hoo-oo-oo-oo-oo.” Nests in burrows.

Small black-and-white shearwater that flies with snappy wingbeats. Pay attention to its face pattern: typically quite dark and smudgy, with white curling up behind the cheek. Underwing is mostly white, sometimes with dark markings. Flies low to the water with quick wingbeats, almost recalling an alcid; occasionally arcs up high in strong wind. Prefers cooler ocean waters in the North and South Atlantic; rarely seen from land. Rare but seemingly increasing in the Pacific. Found singly or in small flocks, sometimes with other shearwaters. In Caribbean and western Atlantic, most similar to Sargasso Shearwater but shorter-tailed and darker-faced, with white under the tail.

Small but brightly-colored woodpecker with a spiky crest. Slight variation across its range, but all birds have a dark orangish face, dark chestnut wings, black-and-white-striped underparts, and a dark tail. Female duller overall, with a plainer face. Inhabits lowland and foothill forests, edges, and gardens, where it can be reasonably common. Often seen singly, but can be encountered in closely-foraging pairs. Favors tall thick trunks. Gives sharp “kek” or “week” call notes. Difficult to confuse with any other small woodpecker.