Plumbeous Sierra Finch

A mostly black inhabitant of swamps and marshes. The male has a telltale orange-red shoulder patch with pale yellow trim, which the female lacks. Both sexes of Tawny-shouldered Blackbird have a yellow-orange shoulder, though the shoulder color is sometimes only visible in flight. The Shiny Cowbird lacks a shoulder patch, is quite glossy, and has a shorter and stouter bill than Red-shouldered Blackbird. The call is a “chut” or “chut-chut” and song is a shrill “Shuh-reee-eee.”

Commonest large hawk in many areas, often seen soaring. Favors woodland and forest edge, farmland with hedges; locally in towns with larger trees and wooded parks. Also hunts over open country, especially moorland and rough grassland. Mainly seen as singles or pairs, circling over fields and woodlands with wings slightly raised. Rather stocky hawk with broad wings and fairly short, square-tipped tail (rounded when spread). Plumage variable but typically has paler breast band, fine dark tail barring (broad dark tail tip on adult).

Small hummingbird endemic to the Marías archipelago, located about 60 miles off the Pacific coast of central Mexico. Male is glittering green with and iridescent throat and bright red bill. Female is gray underneath with a dark mask bordered with white, and red at the base of her bill. The only other hummingbird on the islands is the very different Cinnamon Hummingbird. Inhabits scrub, woodland, and gardens on all four of the islands.