Spot-breasted Laughingthrush

Stocky and often rather sluggish bird of tropical forest and edge in lowlands and foothills of northeast Mexico. Usually found as singles or pairs, feeding quietly at all levels in fruiting trees or bushes. Note the thick stubby bill and rather long tail. Adult male is striking: dark overall with a black hood and broad pinkish-red collar. Female is drab greenish overall with black hood similar to male. Immature is like female but with less extensive black hood.

A chunky, large-headed bird of open areas, usually found perched on wires or flying around in search of insects. Soft gunmetal gray with white underparts. Often found pressed together in pairs or tight groups when at rest. Sometimes flies in the same areas as swallows and swifts, but has a much thicker build, with triangular, somewhat starling-like wings. The only woodswallow throughout most of its range. Song is a somewhat myna-like series of sweet warbling and harsh chattering. Also gives nasal scolding “nyeh”, comparable to a jay or treepie.

Uncommon inhabitant of humid evergreen forest in tropical lowlands. Found singly or in pairs, typically perched quietly and rather upright at middle to upper levels inside the forest. Often with mixed-species feeding flocks acting as a sentinel, giving alarm calls when a hawk or other predator appears. Striking black-and-yellow male suggests an oriole in pattern, but note stout bill. Female much duller, with grayish head and stout bill.