Sooty Chat

Small glossy crow, common in northeast Mexico. Occurs in towns, villages, rubbish dumps, farmland, and semiopen areas with hedges and taller trees. Social and usually in flocks, at times of hundreds. Most likely to be confused with male Great-tailed Grackle, which has pale eyes and longer and keel-shaped tail (shed in late-summer molt). Chihuahuan Raven much larger, with much heavier bill and different voice. Calls of Tamaulipas Crow are low, froglike croaks.

Small flycatcher with an orange chest and a white belly. Male is bright blue above, while the female is brown above with a rufous tail. Confusingly similar to many other Blue Flycatchers, but extensively blue throat and limited orange underparts serve to identify the male. Female can be trickier; look out for relatively well-defined orange breast, rufous tail, and weak eyering (but no pale lores). Found in the dense undergrowth of hill forests. Song is a rambling and variable series of whistling, warbling, and chattering notes; also gives typical Cyornis “chak” and rattle calls.

Large gray-brown babbler with piercing yellow eyes. Can be confused with Jungle Babbler, with which it sometimes associates; look for strong dark lores and a darker bill. Favors scrubby areas, forest edge, and open dry forests. Like many other related babblers, typically hops around on the ground in flocks. Chatters persistently; the most common call is a loud, nasal “kaaa-kaaa-kaaa”.