Cuban Blackbird

Subtly marked sparrow with a poor name; "rufous wing" is restricted to a tiny, barely visible patch on the shoulder. Gray head and neck with peaked rufous crown and rufous eyeline. Stout pink bill. Sides are buff and unstreaked on adults. Back and wings are also buffy with fine markings. Paler throat is edged with thin dark lines. Primarily a Mexican species with very limited range in the U.S.; found in pairs or small flocks in brushy grasslands. Variable song usually composed of a few clear tinkling notes and trills.

Critically endangered grebe found only on Lake Junín in the high Andes of central Peru. Adults are gray and white with a ruby-red eye; young birds have a brownish tinge. Extremely similar to the far more common Silvery Grebe, but Junin Grebe is slightly larger with a longer bill, a skinnier neck, darker flanks, and a paler bill. These differences are more evident when both species are present, to allow for direct comparison. Not easily seen or identified from the lakeshore; a boat is usually needed for close-up views.

True to their name, African Forest-Flycatchers prefer areas of dense forest with tall trees, often near water, where they forage in groups or mixed-species flocks high above the ground. When foraging, this classically dark-above, pale-below flycatcher perches more horizontally than many other flycatchers. The white undersides are broken by gray scalloping on the chest and flanks. Distinguished from other African flycatchers by its more horizontal posture, light scalloping on the chest, and uniformly gray face and upperparts. Often detected by its calls, which include a multi-parted song of falling “tseer, cheer” notes followed by a variable harsh chatter. Dry buzzy chatter calls are given separately as well.