The Birds of Mexico
and Adjacent AreasThe Birds of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala,
and El Salvador
TINAMOUS—PERDICES—TINAMIDAE
GREAT TINAMOU [4] Perdiz Mayor Tinamus major
Range Mex-SAm, exc ElSal. Res Mex (se.cAtl+sAtl), Blz, Guat (Atl). Rare.
Habitat Humid forest or dense woodland.
Voice A tremulous whistle, followed by short notes, often in pairs, some de-
scending in pitch.
Field Marks 15” Olive plumage, with bluish legs and feet.
LITTLE TINAMOU [4] Ponchita Crypturellus soui
Range Mex-SAm, exc ElSal. Res Mex (se.cAtl+sAtl), Blz, Guat (Atl). Rare.
Habitat Humid forest, woodlands, borders.
Voice A slow ascending series of tremulous notes; or a long, tremulous note as-
cending, then descending.
Field Marks 9” Small size, grayish legs, and unbarred grayish brown or reddish
brown plumage.
THICKET TINAMOU [4] Perdiz Canela Crypturellus cinnamomeus
Range Mex-CRic, SAm. Res Mex (s.nPac+nw.cPac+sPac, s.nAtl+csAtl, Yuc),
Biz (n), Guat (Pac, Atl), ElSal.
Habitat Humid forest, scrubby woods, thorny thickets.
Voice A loud, clear, extended whistle, usually on one pitch, but may go down
orup.
Field Marks 11” Barred back (except male Mex, nPac); grayish or grayish brown.
(Mex, nPac) to rich reddish brown to dark olive-brown (Mex, sAtl); legs orange.
SLATY-BREASTED TINAMOU [4] Perdiz Jamuey Crypturellus boucardi
Range Mex-CRic, exc ElSal. Res Mex (se.cAtl+extreme s.sAtl), Blz, Guat (Atl).
Rare.
Habitat Dense undergrowth of humid forest.
Voice Two extended, unobtrusive, low-pitched notes.
Field Marks 11” Plumage (and leg color) like that of dark races of Thicket
Tinamou, but mostly unbarred. M: very dark olive-brown to slaty. F: dark red-
dish brown; untacs barred.
LOONS—SOMORGUJOS—GAVIIDAE
RED-THROATED LOON Somorgujo Menor Gavia stellata
Range AK-Mex. Win Mex (w.BajCal, nw.nPac), Rare,2 LOONS, GREBES
Habitat Mostly coastal salt water in winter.
Field Marks 25” Like Pacific Loon, but bill more slender and upturned; Win:
back more speckled; head and neck paler, less contrasty; Sum: throat rufous, not
purplish; hindneck boldly streaked.
PACIFIC LOON [I] Somorgujo Pacifico Gavia pacifica
Range AK-Mex. Win Mex (BajCal, n.+c.nPac).
Habitat Ocean bays, coastal lagoons, estuaries.
Field Marks 25” Smaller, and smaller-billed, than Common Loon. Win: con-
trasty blackish and white on head and neck; no back speckles. Sum: rows of large
white spots above; throat purplish; head medium gray; sides of neck streaked.
COMMON LOON Somorgujo Comin Gavia immer
Range AK-Mex. Win Mex (BajCal, nPac, ncHi, ncAtl). Rare.
Habitat Coastal, or inland lakes and rivers.
Field Marks 33” Larger than Red-throated or Pacific Loon, with larger, straight,
dark bill. Win: gray above, white below; less contrasty than Pacific Loon, more
so than Red-throated Loon; no back speckles. Sum: rows of large white spots
above; head and neck black with greenish gloss; two partial, striped collars.
GREBES—ZAMBULLIDORES—PODICIPEDIDAE
LEAST GREBE [I] Zambullidor Menor Tachybaptus dominicus
Range US-SAm. Res Mex (all, exc nBajCal and n.nPac), Blz (n), Guat, ElSal (rare
and local Hi).
Habitat Ponds, lakes, marsh pools, lagoons.
Field Marks 9” Darker, more slender-billed than Pied-billed Grebe. Plumage
dark gray, except whitish belly and untacs. Win: whitish throat. Sum: blackish
throat and crown.
PIED-BILLED GREBE [I!] Zambullidor Ptquipinto Podilymbus podiceps
Range AK-SAm. Res/win Mex, Blz, Guat, ElSal.
Habitat Pools, marshy ponds, lakes, rivers, lagoons.
Field Marks 12" Mostly dark grayish brown, with whitish belly and untacs; bill
short, stout, pale. Win: throat white; bill plain. Sum: throat and bill bar black.
HORNED GREBE Zambullidor Cornudo Podiceps auritus
Range AK-Mex. Win Mex (nBajCal, nw.nPac). Rare.
Habitat Mostly coastal waters.
Field Marks 13” Like Eared Grebe, blackish gray above, with short, slender bill
and red eyes, but Win: ear patch all white, hindneck and foreneck more con-
trasty blackish and white, Sum: neck chestnut, neat tawny face plumes extend
backward mostly above eye.
EARED GREBE [II] Zambullidor Orejudo Podiceps nigricollis
Range Can-Mex, Guat, ElSal. Res/win Mex (irr res nBajCal+ncHi; win BajCal,
Pac, Hi, ncAtl); win Guat (Pac, Hi), ElSal. Rare or local (summer), common
(winter).