Middle American Screech-Owl

Local and often rather wary dove of fairly open coastal habitats, such as beach dunes with desert scrub, overgrown fields, town edges. Resembles widespread Mourning Dove of North America, but slightly stockier, with a shorter and squared tail. Feeds on the ground, but most often seen in flight, which is fast and direct, usually rather low over the treetops. Best field mark is the white trailing edge to the inner part of the wing, usually quite distinct in flight.

A nondescript, uniformly earth-brown medium-sized bird with a stout bill. Sexes alike. Singles and pairs can be found in the upper levels of forest, forest edge, mangroves, and nearby cultivated areas in lowlands and foothills. Sometimes joins mixed-species flocks. Differs from the similarly dark brown White-streaked Friarbird in its consistently uniform appearance, lacking any streaking or pale markings on the head. Gives a rollicking, fluty call, “ke-ke-KWEEOW.” First two notes can be barely audible, but last note powerful and loud.

Striking antbird with a conspicuous white throat and breast. Males have a black cap, brown back, and gray belly, while females have a cinnamon cap and underparts scaled black-and-chestnut. Note the bare yellowish eyering in both sexes. Found in humid forest, where it forages in the understory, exclusively around army-ant swarms. The song is a descending series of whistled notes, finishing with a few harsh sharp notes.