The bill shape, which is large, with straight culmen and slight hook at tip ("awl-like") are spot-on for TK and not for Couch's, supporting is the rather short tail and general large-headed look. And of course (for those who heard it, we did not) the vocalization is definitive.

If you travel to southern realms you will see so many of these that you start to lose brain cells, actually you stop looking at them but it is good once in a while to study one just in case...as we now know.

By the way, Maryland listers, we DID see this jobbie (barely) even though Barry and I are off to Panama on Wednesday,  but keep your eyes peeled for another rarity to show up! The old Cooper-Mackiernan curse...

Gail Mackiernan
Colesville, MD

-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Gerald & Laura Tarbell <>
> This is a very nicely colored bird. Are we sure it is not the very similar
> Couch's, which I saw in S Texas?
>     Hate to beat the dead horse, but when birds with "Tropical" in their
> name start showing up here in December ... Wonder how long it will be before
> my home here in Carroll County will be beach front property.
>     Jerry Tarbell
>     Carroll County