Black-faced Firefinch

Striking male has bronzy-green head and breast and bright red belly; female grayish-brown with limited red belly and distinctive white squiggle behind eye. Compare with Mountain Trogon, which overlaps extensively in range. Note undertail pattern: fine black-and-white barring with large white tips on the feathers. Habitat is also useful; Elegant typically found at lower elevations than Mountain, but some overlap. Occurs from Arizona to Costa Rica in thorn forest, canyons, and mountains up to around 2000 m, locally higher. Like other trogons, stoic and unobtrusive, often sitting still for long periods of time and sallying out quickly to catch insects. Listen for series of harsh descending barks.

An elegant, boldly patterned large shorebird of high Andean salt lakes, bogs, and lagoon shores. White head and body contrasting with glossy black upperparts are distinctive even at long range; at closer range note bluish legs and long fine bill with upswept tip. Often in pairs or small groups; feeds while wading in shallows, sweeping its bill through the water. Sexes look similar but female’s bill is more strongly upcurved. Gives noisy calls when agitated, especially near nest.

A large and distinctive magpie-robin of the granitic Seychelles islands. Black with a large white shoulder patch. In good light, the black plumage looks glossy purple or bluish. Found in woodland, gardens, and coastal forest. Formerly widespread, but now endangered and restricted to just a few islands. The song is a slow series of musical whistles; sometimes also includes harsher notes and imitations.