Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch

A medium-sized ground dove of lowland forest floor. Bluish-gray on the head, back, and sides to the chest, with blackish wings, a pale gray shoulder and wingbars, a white throat and sides to the chest, a dingy pinkish belly, and an obvious dark red “bleeding heart” in the center of the chest. Note the scaling on the back. The central eastern race has more gray on the chest. Unlikely to be mistaken if seen well. The only other dove likely to flush from the ground would be Asian Emerald Dove. Voice is a low, upslurred hooting note.

A chunky, grayish-brown waxbill with a plain back, boldly barred and scalloped underparts, and a white-tipped outer tail. The head and throat of the male are characteristically red, while the female is uniform gray-brown. Pairs breed in arid thorn scrub, but in the non-breeding season they flock and become nomadic and irruptive, also occupying grassland, broadleaf woodland, and cultivation. The call is a sparrow-like dry chipping. The female Cut-throat looks similar to the larger female Red-headed Finch, but its barred (not plain) head and lack of a white-tipped outer tail differentiate it.

Fairly small gull, common and widespread throughout most of North America. Breeding adults are white-headed with a bold black ring around the bill; nonbreeding adults have smudgy brown markings on the head. Note pale eye and yellow legs. Immatures are mottled brownish overall; note pink bill with black tip. Found along lakes, rivers, ponds, and beaches. More common inland than most other gull species, and quite fond of parking lots and urban areas. Often in flocks. Most similar to Short-billed Gull, but larger and larger-billed. Immatures of the two species are especially difficult to differentiate, but Ring-billed is usually more coarsely mottled.