Russet-winged Schiffornis

Common in tropical lowlands of west Mexico, where it is endemic. Found in woodlands, coconut plantations, gardens, and semi-open areas with taller trees, including towns and villages. Often noisy and conspicuous; calls include a sneezy "cháco cháco." Golden wash to cheeks is inconspicuous, but big black eye patch is diagnostic among similar "ladder-backed" woodpeckers. Male has flame-red crown patch and female has pale grayish crown.

Tiny, disproportionately long-tailed, active, and vocal. The upperparts are gray-brown with heavy dark streaking, the underparts are pale, and each tail feather shows both pale and dark tips. Generally found in rather moist habitats within arid zones, including field margins, riparian woodland, scrub, gardens, and wetlands; can be quite numerous. Very vocal, especially in spring. The song is a long series of dry chirps with a very slight pause between notes, subtly different from the rattling song of Delicate Prinia. Males often sing from obvious perches. Visually extremely similar to Delicate Prinia, but there is little overlap in range. In any areas of overlap, best separated by song, but Graceful is also slightly shorter- and broader-tailed and grayer.

Breeding plumage grayish above with white eyebrow; breast pale pinkish, mostly unstreaked. Nonbreeding plumage grayish brown above, whitish below with dark streaks; averages smudgier and less well-marked than American Pipit. Sides of tail clean white; compare with dingy white of Rock Pipit in areas of overlap. Song is a long series of repeated high-pitched notes; essentially a slow trill. Call a high, lisping, slightly upslurred "ssiip.” Breeds in mountains on barren, often rocky ground; winters in varied wetland habitats, from lakeshores to salt marshes.