Gray-sided Bush Warbler

A common sight throughout much of its range, this medium-sized sunbird can be found in parks, gardens, and plantations, as well as more pristine open forest and forest edge environments. Male is bright red with a dark gray belly and iridescent blue cap and “moustache.” Female is dull olive-yellow overall with brighter underparts. High, squeaky repetitive song is loud but often difficult to locate in high branches. Calls frequently, giving various squeaks and “tsip” notes while foraging.

A nocturnal species of dry mature woodlands with open understory and dense leaf litter. Hunts by “flycatching” from tree limbs and roosts on tree limbs, parallel to limb, and on ground. The similar Chuck-will’s-widow has a rustier tail without the white tail tip seen on Puerto Rican Nightjar. Nighthawk species have a white slash on outer wing, most easily seen in flight, that the Puerto Rican Nightjar lacks. Heard more often than seen, this species’ song is a repeated, burry “whip, whip, whip, whip…” or “weep, weep, weep, weep…”

A relatively large-billed shrike-like bird primarily found in lowland forest canopy. Male is white below and iridescent black above except for a white rump. The female is overall reddish brown, with more reddish wings and a grayish hood. Similar to several bicolored shrikelike birds in the region, but note Sabine’s Puffback’s large bill, striking sexual dimorphism, and unique song, which consists of a distinctive series of long whistles descending in pitch before arriving at a single repeated pitch, growing louder, and then ending suddenly. Songs can sometimes last several minutes, and are more reminiscent of some Yellow Longbill songs than of the songs of other puffbacks. Calls include typical puffback-like rattles and harsh calls.