Slaty-backed Thrush

Swarthily mustachioed parakeet of lowland forests and forest edges; found in gardens and parks in its introduced range. Both sexes are bright green with salmon-colored chests, gray-blue heads, and a black mustache. Males have a bright red upper bill, while females’ bills are wholly black. Usually seen flying over speedily, giving high-pitched, grating shrieks.

As the name suggests, this seed-finch has a truly massive bill – much larger than any seedeater. Male is all black with a small white wing patch. Bill is pale whitish or silvery. Female is brown with a dark bill. Very similar to Great-billed Seed-Finch, which is slightly larger; thankfully there is limited range overlap. Occurs in lowlands, primarily in scrubby or grassy fields and marshes. Uncommon.

Very large for a hummingbird; size alone separates from many other species. Males and females similar: gray below, dusky-greenish back, brown rump, and large dark tail with prominent white corners. Also note white eyebrow and short white mustache stripe. Male has bright blue throat patch, difficult to see unless the light hits it just right. Uncommon in canyons and mountains with mixed pine-oak forests, primarily in Mexico but barely extending into the U.S. Very similar to Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem, especially if you can’t see the throat color. Blue-throated is slightly larger and paler overall with larger white (not gray) tips on the tail feathers; females are plainer, lacking the buffy tones of Amethyst-throated. Also compare with Rivoli’s Hummingbird, especially females; Blue-throated is shorter-billed and plainer (less speckled) on the underparts.