Banded Cotinga

A somewhat large, chunky dove of dry scrub woodlands where it is typically found foraging on ground. Its plain plumage, the lack of white on the wings, and the very limited white on its tail, distinguish it from other doves on Grenada. Its song is a drawn out low, plaintive “Hooooooo,” loudest near start. Critically endangered.

Medium-sized, dark swift. Infrequently seen, patchily distributed, and extremely difficult to identify. Note short, square tail, and overall dark gray color. Limited whitish frosting on chin and lores is nearly impossible to see in the field, and even difficult to confidently assess from photos. Often shows some whitish scaling around the vent. Spot-fronted Swift is very similar but, with a good view, shows larger white spots on the face and behind the eye. However, juvenile plumage of both species is poorly known and causes even more confusion. White-chinned occurs from Belize south to Peru and east to the Guianas, and can be found at a wide elevation range, from 3,000 m all the way down to the lowlands. Often found in mixed flocks with other swifts, including White-collared, Chestnut-collared, and Spot-fronted.

Dumpy, dark alcid with pale eyes; very small, only slightly larger than a sparrow. Note the thin white “whiskers” trailing backwards from behind each eye. Breeding birds are dark gray-black overall, with a droopy forward-arching crest and a bright orange bill with an uptilted gape which gives them a maniacally grinning appearance. Non-breeding adults and immatures are duller, with a smaller, darker bill and the barest hints of a crest. Breeds in immense colonies on remote rocky islands and forages out at sea. Very vocal at colonies, but also gives occasional yapping barks when out foraging in groups.