Rufous-winged Philentoma

A large, long-tailed green fruit-dove with a yellow-orange lower belly, a pale gray head, and a conspicuous red breast patch in males that is lacking in females. Usually encountered singly or in pairs within the canopy and understory of forest and wooded areas in both lowlands and hills, typically being more abundant in the foothills. Longer-tailed than other local fruit-doves; scarlet breast patch easily identifies males, and both sexes can be identified by their vibrant yellow-orange belly. Call is a staccato two-noted “koo-wooh.”

Common raptor in open spaces in the high Andes and southern South America. Large, relatively broad-winged, and short-tailed raptor. As the name suggests, plumage is quite variable. Adults range from clean white to dark gray and rufous below with a gray or rufous back. Always look for the white tail with a black band near the tip. Juveniles are more confusing, usually dark brown above and buffy below with a variable amount of dark streaking below. Juveniles can also be all dark brown (but this morph is rare). Compare with Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, which is larger and broader-winged, with young birds usually darker than most Variable Hawks. Occurs from sea level up to over 4,500 m in the Andes, typically in open agricultural land, desert, or paramo, but also ranging over wooded areas.

Medium-sized blackbird found in marshes, wet grasslands, and occasionally agricultural areas. Males are mostly black with a chestnut forehead, crown and throat. Females are dark brown above with faint streaks and olive-brown below with a buff throat. Highly gregarious, may gather in huge groups of up to 1000 individuals.