Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush

This flightless South American relative of the ostriches stands about 5 feet tall with a body about the size of a sheep; no similar species in its range. Rheas roam widely on open Patagonian steppe and also occur locally in open habitats of the Andes, mainly at very high elevations. Can be confiding where used to people, but in other areas wary, running strongly and quickly. Rheas occur singly or in groups, and males take care of the young. Adults have bold pale spots on the body, first-year birds are plainer overall.

Attractive petrel with a black mask, largely gray above and white below, with a diagnostic dark breast band. Note the heavy dark bill. In flight, exhibits gray underwings and gray and dark brown M-pattern on the back. The rare dark morph has dark underparts, but still retains the distinctive complete breast band, which is the most useful mark separating this species from Fea’s and Zino’s Petrels.  Usually encountered well offshore, in towering roller-coaster flights; sometimes follows boats.

Drab and confusing flycatcher found in lightly-wooded areas at lower elevations of the Andes. Its range is mostly confined to Ecuador, but it also occurs in southwestern Colombia. Plumage is grayish-brown with pale wingbars and yellowish belly. Head feathers are sometimes raised to form a small crest that may show some white. Smaller than Yellow-bellied Elaenia, and usually not as bright yellow below as Sierran Elaenia. Commonly heard calls include an abrupt whistle, a short churr, and a rattling trill; however, other elaenias have similar vocalizations.