Giant Wood-Rail

Widespread but uncommon forest hawk of tropical America. Adults are mostly gray, darker on crown and upperparts, with two pale tail bands and rufous thighs that are often hidden from view. Belly is tinged rufous and faintly barred in the southern part of its range. Immature looks remarkably like a forest-falcon, but note its yellow eye and lack of dark crescent on face. Overlaps with the similar Rufous-thighed Kite in parts of South America. Bicolored Hawk is larger, lacks a vertical stripe on the throat, usually stays inside forest, and almost never soars. Feeds mainly on birds and is generally quiet and elusive. Birds from central and southern Chile as well as adjacent parts of Argentina are now considered a separate species, Chilean Hawk.

Distinctive orange piculet. Orange below, olive green above, with black-and-white speckled crown and forehead. Larger than other piculets, with a longer bill. Found in dense secondary growth, including bamboo, vine tangles, and successional vegetation along rivers. Forages singly or in pairs in the under- and midstory, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks.

Small, sparrow-like bird found only on Mexico’s Guadalupe Island, located in the Pacific Ocean 160 miles west of Baja California. It has a gray hood, dark face, tawny flanks, pale bill, and white outer tail feathers that flash conspicuously in flight. No other similar bird is found on the island. Found in a wide variety of habitats as long as native vegetation remains. Song is a short burst of sweet chips and trills, repeated every few seconds. Highly endangered due to habitat loss and introduced predators.