Large-billed Seed-Finch

Small hummingbird of desert scrub and brushy woodland in dry interior areas of southwest Mexico. Feeds quietly at all levels, often on cactus flowers. Note the long arched bill on both sexes. Spectacular male has expansive magenta gorget and long, forked tail (usually held closed in a point). Female is buffy below with a dusky mask. The very similar Lucifer Hummingbird occurs to the north and is rarely separable in the field from Beautiful (male Lucifer has pointed outer tail feathers vs. blunt on Beautiful).

A hefty brownish member of the swallow family. Darker on the back and paler below. Note the slightly forked tail with white spots. Nests in canyons, escarpments, and gorges, as well as towns and villages; frequently in arid areas. Often seen in pairs or small groups; in winter congregates in larger flocks. Not very vocal, but sometimes gives a short, dry trill. At a distance, can be confused with “Riparia” martins; look for this species’ bright white tail patches. Separation from Red-throated Crag-Martin may be tricky, but there is little or no overlap in range.

A medium-sized woodcreeper, found primarily in western Amazonia, south of the Amazon river. Lacks any truly distinctive visual features. Shows variable buffy streaking on head, back, and breast, and a scaly buffy throat. Bill is rather straight and typically dark grayish or silvery. Most easily identified by voice, a descending series of rather nasal notes, sometimes with a stuttered pattern. Typically seen singly or in pairs, often accompanying mixed-species flocks in the understory or mid-levels. Occurs in the lowlands and into the foothills of the Andes, usually in mature forest.