Greater Roadrunner

Scientific Name: Geococcyx californianus

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Year-round in hot, shrubby expanses of the southwestern US and northern Mexico. They can also be found in open country with patches of shrubs or small trees almost as far east as the Mississippi River.

Field Notes: Unmistakable in range.

Personal Notes: Richard found it for me! The Roadrunner! Beep-beep!

Great Blue Turaco

Scientific Name: Corythaeola cristata

Population Estimate: Unknown, but Least Concern status

Range / Habitat: Lowland and montane moist forest in equatorial Africa.

Field Notes: Large blue bird, unmistakable in range, as above.

Personal Notes: Seen at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Guira Cuckoo

Scientific Name: Guira Guira

Population Estimate: Unknown but Least Concern status.

Range / Habitat: It is found widely in open and semi-open habitats of eastern and southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and north-eastern Argentina.

Field Notes: It has whitish-buff underparts and rump, dark brownish upperparts, a broadly white-tipped dark tail that is relatively long, an orange-rufous crest, bare yellow ocular-skin (commonly fades in captivity), and a relatively heavy, orange-yellow bill.

Personal Notes:

Squirrel Cuckoo

Scientific Name: Piaya cayana

Population Estimate: 5M to 50M

Range / Habitat: Breeds from northwestern Mexico, through Central America, down to northern Argentina and Uruguay. Also found on Trinidad. Habitat is lowland moist forest.

Field Notes: Large, long-tailed cuckoo with unmistakable plumage. Runs along branches, hops from branch to branch, and forages on ground like a squirrel.

Personal Notes:

Groove-billed Ani

Scientific Name: Crotophaga sulcirostris

Order: Cuculiformes

Population Estimate: 2M

Location of Sighting: Both Yucatan Peninsula and Pacific coast of Mexico.

Dates of Sighting: Winter 2009-2010.

Notes: An unmistakable bird -- medium sized, long tail, shaggy, all black with a large bill.