Pallid Scops-Owl

A pallid, medium-sized bird of dry scrub and desert; also agricultural land, towns, and gardens. Native to northern Africa and the southwestern Arabian Peninsiula; established in Puerto Rico and New Zealand, but also found in pockets across North America. Compare with Eurasian Collared-Dove, which also has a black collar on the hindneck; note that Eurasian Collared-Doves are generally darker overall, have more extensive black at the base of the undertail, and the primaries are distinctly darker than the remainder of the wing. In flight, Eurasian Collared-Doves have a tricolored pattern to the upperwing rather than the somewhat uniform appearance of African Collared-Doves. Song is “oo-rrroooo-oooo,” loudest at start, than trailing off.

Tiny hummingbird of desert lowlands and foothills; found in gardens, agricultural areas with flowers, and native scrub. Adult male with long black-and-white tail “streamers” is basically unmistakable, but greatly outnumbered by females and immatures, which look much like several other small hummingbirds. On females and immatures note the relatively long tail with pale edging to the shorter central feathers and lack of rusty tones to the plumage overall.

Distinctive yellow woodpecker of lowland Amazonia. Bright creamy yellow overall with short creamy crest, brown wings and tail, and yellow bill; male has red moustache Usually found in seasonally flooded and swampy forested areas, but can be found outside those habitats occasionally in other forested areas. Listen for a loud, descending series of whistles: “PEE-pee-pee-peer.”