Last birds in the field guide...

 

Eurasian Siskin

Masked Tityra

My 'New' National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America, edited by Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer has a section in the  back of the book entitled "Rarities from Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe".   This section of the 431-page guide lists 85 species of birds.   The very last bird shown is the Eurasian Siskin (pictured above).

The Eurasian Siskin is a palearctic species with about six records from northeastern North America, but the origin of these has been questioned, with a male photographed at Saint-Pierre and Miquelon on June 23, 1983, being perhaps the most compelling.   The male is distinctive with a black forecrown and chin, olive above, and extensive yellow below.

The most striking, in appearance (for me), of the 85 listed rarities, is the Masked Tityra.   It is common from northwestern and northeastern Mexico. There is one record from south Texas park in 1990.   Males are pale gray above and whitish below with contrasting black on face, most of wings and thick subterminal tail band.   Bare skin on face and base of thick bill is pinkish red.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder