Metallic Starling

Small but rather stocky and stout-billed petrel of subtropical eastern Pacific and Humboldt Current; not seen from mainland. One of several similar species, Masatierra is best identified by gray head and collar at sides of neck, rather stout bill, and plain grayish tail without a black tip. Much smaller than Juan Fernandez Petrel with quick wheeling flight unlike more easy and less hurried-looking flight of Juan. Also compare with Stejneger’s and Cook’s Petrels.

Long-tailed male is dark above with a paler belly; in good lighting, note his wine-red back and breast and a purplish-blue crown. Midnight-black throat distinguishes him from otherwise similarly-colored sunbird males. Female is much duller, being predominantly greenish-brown with paler underparts, a gray wash over the head, and a pale rump patch; this last feature distinguishes her from most other sunbirds in range, except Fork-tailed and Mrs. Gould’s Sunbirds, both of which have yellower underparts. Black-throated’s song is composed of shrill phrases of very high twittering trills, often slurred. Calls include high-pitched buzzy squeaks and chip notes.

Dark reddish woodpecker with a gleaming yellow bill and gray-brown head and underparts. Female averages paler-headed than the male. Forages low, often on or near the ground in lowland, hill, and montane forests with a dense understory; often on fallen trunks. Gives rather thin “tsik!” notes, sometimes singly, sometimes strung out into longer series. Joins mixed-species foraging flocks.