Slaty Monarch

Large brown laughingthrush with an orange face and white-spotted back and wings. Like many other laughingthrushes, often forages deep in cover, but will venture out onto trails and openings occasionally. Repetitive song emanates from middle-to-high-elevation forests. Usually seen in pairs or small groups.

Widespread and fairly common in northern South America. This medium-sized woodcreeper is found in open wooded habitats, scrub, and riparian forest. The well-named woodcreeper has a very straight bill that can even look slightly upturned unlike most other woodcreepers. Also note the bill’s pale color. Otherwise, mostly dark brown with fine streaking on the head and breast, but note the unstreaked back. Very similar to Zimmer’s Woodcreeper, but listen for Straight-billed’s slightly slower song that typically goes up in pitch at the end. Striped Woodcreeper has more streaking on the back and a slightly decurved bill. Usually seen singly or in pairs working up tree trunks and branches, usually at lower to middle levels in forest. Sometimes follows mixed-species flocks.

A perky, upright wren restricted to alpine regions in the South Island of New Zealand. Has a very short tail and rounded wings, but distinctive long legs and toes. Male is a mossy green above and pale gray below, with noticeable yellow flanks and a creamy eyebrow. Female has duller plumage. Stance is often erect; constantly bobs up and down, flicking its wings, before hopping and running. Flies very short distances. Seen out in the open in rocky boulder fields, hence its common New Zealand name of “rock wren.” Gives a high-pitched three-note call which travels well in the open alpine terrain. Pairs will sometimes duet.