White-winged Crossbill Stocky, large-headed finch with a unique crossed bill. Males are pinkish-red with black wings and two bold white wingbars. Females yellowish overall. Nomadic; breeds at any time of year, whenever there is enough food available. Prefers spruce cones. Red Crossbill also has a crossed bill, but is duller overall without white wingbars. Often in small flocks. Rarely visits feeders. Listen for distinctive “machine-gun rattle” calls and high-pitched tooting, like a toy truck. Link:

White-winged Crossbill - eBird

Stocky, large-headed finch with a unique crossed bill. Males are pinkish-red with black wings and two bold white wingbars. Females yellowish overal...

Photo Location: United States

Collared Scops-Owl Medium-sized owl with significant variation in plumage and vocalizations across its large range. Either gray or brown in coloration, with prominent pale ear tufts and pale face outlined in black. Fond of open wooded habitats from lowlands to foothills, often found roosting in temples, houses, and gardens, particularly in rural areas. Larger and more strongly tufted than both Oriental and Mountain Scops-Owls; both also lack the black facial border. Listen for this species’ incisive, short hoots, given at well-spaced intervals (often around 10 seconds). Link:

Collared Scops-Owl - eBird

Medium-sized owl with significant variation in plumage and vocalizations across its large range. Either gray or brown in coloration, with prominent...

Photo Location: India

Andaman Nightjar A dark, medium-sized nightjar with a somewhat long tail and wings. The crown and back are markedly paler gray, and the white throat patch can sometimes be hidden. In flight, note the white patch on the outermost flight feathers. Found in open woodland, forest clearings, and mangroves. The song consists of 4-5 loud, hard notes delivered in a level series: “chowk-chowk-chowk-...”. Link:

Andaman Nightjar - eBird

A dark, medium-sized nightjar with a somewhat long tail and wings. The crown and back are markedly paler gray, and the white throat patch can somet...

Photo Location: India

Pacific Parakeet Fairly large, all-green parakeet (occasionally has a few orange flecks on head and neck) with stout pale bill and pointed tail. Favors tropical forests and plantations, where often occurs in fairly large flocks. Not readily separated in the field from Green Parakeet except by assumptions based on range: Pacific occurs in Pacific lowlands of Chiapas and northern Central America, whereas Green occurs in interior valleys of Chiapas. Larger than Orange-fronted Parakeet with plain head pattern and no blue in the wings. Link:

Pacific Parakeet - eBird

Fairly large, all-green parakeet (occasionally has a few orange flecks on head and neck) with stout pale bill and pointed tail. Favors tropical for...

Photo Location: Mexico

Magellanic Woodpecker Very large black woodpecker of native forests with large diameter trees, from dense, bamboo-choked temperate rainforest to rather open and stunted woodlands in drier areas. Ranges widely in large territories, often in pairs or family groups. Can be very confiding, feeding quietly at close range, when best located by strong taps as it digs out grubs from rotting wood. Male has a flame-red head while the female’s head is black with a distinctive recurved crest. Drumming is a loud, resonant, rapid double-rap that carries well. Link:

Magellanic Woodpecker - eBird

Very large black woodpecker of native forests with large diameter trees, from dense, bamboo-choked temperate rainforest to rather open and stunted ...

Photo Location: Argentina

Striped Cuckoo Long-tailed, fairly small cuckoo of tropical lowlands, rarely seen unless singing its loud and far-carrying song, usually from a fence or other low perch. Most of the time it is furtive, feeding on or near the ground in dense growth. Found in scrubby woodland and edge, overgrown weedy fields, and thickets, often with dense grasses. Note the striped upperparts and plain buffy underparts. While singing it often raises and lowers its dark crest. Link:

Striped Cuckoo - eBird

Long-tailed, fairly small cuckoo of tropical lowlands, rarely seen unless singing its loud and far-carrying song, usually from a fence or other low...

Photo Location: French Guiana

Yellow-browed Bulbul Yellow-green bulbul with a clean face and dark eyes. Inhabits foothill and lower montane forests; often in moist areas. Commonly encountered in pairs or small flocks, but will also join mixed-species flocks. Typically sticks to cover. Song is comprised of cheery whistles mixed with slurred warbles. Calls include warbles, clear “weeeep” notes, and short nasal notes. Link:

Yellow-browed Bulbul - eBird

Yellow-green bulbul with a clean face and dark eyes. Inhabits foothill and lower montane forests; often in moist areas. Commonly encountered in pai...

Photo Location: India

Yellow Grosbeak Big, bright grosbeak of foothills and highlands; also lowlands locally in west Mexico. Found in tropical forest and edges, brushy woodlands, and shade-coffee plantations. Usually seen singly, occasionally in small groups, feeding quietly at all levels in fruiting trees. Note the very stout bill and white wing markings. Male is unmistakable: brilliant yellow overall in most of Mexico, but rich golden yellow in Chiapas and Guatemala. Female similar to female Flame-colored Tanager but bigger, with massive bill and white (not yellow) vent. Link:

Yellow Grosbeak - eBird

Big, bright grosbeak of foothills and highlands; also lowlands locally in west Mexico. Found in tropical forest and edges, brushy woodlands, and sh...

Photo Location: Mexico

New Britain Dwarf-Kingfisher A small kingfisher with deep purplish-blue upperparts and fiery orange underparts with a white neck spot and bright orange legs. Bill is blackish-red above and purer red below, but appears entirely red in the field. Prefers mature and dense secondary forest, often perching low. No other dwarf-kingfisher shares its range. Told from Common Kingfisher by smaller size and red rather than black bill. Call apparently nearly identical to that of other Melanesian dwarf-kingfishers: a high-pitched, weak repetitive whistle, often given in flight. Link:

New Britain Dwarf-Kingfisher - eBird

A small kingfisher with deep purplish-blue upperparts and fiery orange underparts with a white neck spot and bright orange legs. Bill is blackish-r...

Photo Location: Papua New Guinea

Asian Koel A large cuckoo, distinctive in all plumages, but usually secretive, keeping to the interior of dense trees in many habitats, even inner cities and fields. Adult males glossy black with dull lime-green bill; females and immatures blackish brown with white dots on the wings and strong streaking on head and throat. Adults have ruby-red eyes. Females lay eggs in the nests of other large birds, including crows, shrikes, and starlings. Song is a loud, persistent “ko-EL!” similar to a peacock’s call. Link:

Asian Koel - eBird

A large cuckoo, distinctive in all plumages, but usually secretive, keeping to the interior of dense trees in many habitats, even inner cities and ...

Photo Location: India