Rufous-bellied Mountain Tanager

Medium-sized blackbird found locally in habitats with wet grass. Shiny black, with a white or light yellow eye and sharply pointed black bill. Giant Cowbird occasionally has a pale eye and may appear similar, but is much larger than Pale-eyed Blackbird; told apart from the similar Velvet-fronted Grackle by its pale eyes, longer, more pointed bill, and shorter tail. Found in wet grasslands and grassy margins of oxbow lakes, where it forages singly, in pairs, or in small groups.

A chunky olive-yellow finch with a hefty grosbeak-like bill. Male typically has a paler base to the bill and female is smaller, duller, and streakier. Uncommon, preferring wooded portions of Nightingale Island, to which it is endemic. Sings a repeated “whut-preeu,” deeper and slower than the song of Nightingale Island Finch; female answers with a whistle. The much smaller and commoner Nightingale Island Finch has a thinner, daintier bill than Wilkins’s and occurs throughout the island.

Attractive orange-and-black oriole endemic to central Mexico, where it takes the place of Bullock’s Oriole (of western North America). Favors open woods, plantations, hedges with tall trees, and towns; migrants also occur in pine-oak forest in mountains. Feeds at all levels in trees and bushes, mixing readily with other orioles. Yellow-orange plumage of male distinct from purer orange of other orioles; also note the big white wing panel, black nape and cheeks, and black flanks. Female very similar to female Bullock’s Oriole but shows ghosting of male head pattern.