Plateau Lark

Small and generally uncommon nightjar, endemic to the forested highlands of Sumatra and Java. Favors openings in the understory within wooded areas such as roads and small clearings. Dark overall and rather short-tailed (wingtips reach tail tip), with a pale patch on the wing (white in males, tan in females). Listen for its song, a long and even series of rapid “chup” notes.

Fairly large, terrestrial bird of Andean cloud forest. It has a gray head, a white throat, white speckling on the wings, and faint barring on the belly. Similar to White-throated Tinamou, but Hooded has a grayer head, a less mottled neck, and a different voice, and is found at higher elevations. Very shy and solitary, heard far more often than seen; song is a nasal “ow” repeated every few seconds.

Woodstars are tiny hummingbirds that fly like bumblebees. Gorgeted Woodstar is found in the subtropical and temperate zone of the Andes from Venezuela to Ecuador, where it inhabits cloud forest, edges, and second growth. Males are deep emerald-green (more of a bluish tone than other woodstars) with a glittering wine-colored throat and white patches on the sides of the rump. Females are trickier; note the rufous rump and tail with a black band at the base, extremely small size, short tail, and buffy infusion on the throat. On both sexes, bill often appears slightly decurved, more than other woodstars. Sometimes seen singly feeding in the canopy or at lower patches of flowers. Visits feeders.