Mourning Wheatear

A “classic” Celeus woodpecker, medium-sized and rufous overall with a shaggy crest. Unlike the similar Scale-breasted and Waved Woodpeckers, Chestnut Woodpecker mostly or entirely lacks black markings on the body and wings. Sexes are similar, but males have a red mustache. The color of the crest varies across subspecies: some birds have a contrasting golden crest, while others have a plain rufous crest like the rest of the body. Widespread but uncommon across much of northern South America, where it inhabits the mid-levels of lowland forests and edges, especially around water.

Large, lanky blackbird with rounded crown and long tail. Males have ridiculously long tails, almost as long as their body, often held in a V-shape like the keel of boat. Males are glossy black. Females are brown, with subtle face pattern. Eye color ranges from brown along western Gulf Coast to yellow on Atlantic Coast. Strictly coastal, except in Florida where they occur inland (often around human development). Overlaps with similar Great-tailed Grackle on Texas coast, but occurs more strictly in coastal saltmarshes and has dark eye (not pale).

Fairly small and slim weaver with a slender bill and a pale eye. Breeding male is distinctive, with bright yellow overall plumage and a chestnut face. Females, non-breeding males, and juveniles are much duller, but show streaking on the back and are pale overall. Found mainly in wetlands, though they will range into drier surrounding country. Almost always in flocks. Vocalizations are typical of weavers: “chek” notes and a sizzling, “radio static” song. Plumages other than breeding male can be easily confused with other weavers, but can be identified by the pale eye, wetland habitat, and overall size and shape.