Foothill Schiffornis

A slender, long-tailed bird of dense gallery forests and river islands in northern Brazil and extreme southwestern Guyana. Male is mostly black with tail feathers tipped white and with white scalloping on wings. Female is very different: brownish-gray above and buffy below, with a black tail and white throat streaked black. Like other Cercomacra, tends to stay concealed in dense vine tangles in the canopy and midstory, where it clambers slowly about, usually in pairs, searching for insects. Best detected by voice; two-noted song is given in series of 3–5 phrases, with hiccupping effect; similar to song of Gray Antbird but higher-pitched, faster, and less hoarse. Female is unlike any other species in range. Male is darker than Gray and Blackish antbirds, which do not occur in the same habitat and have different voices. Plumage recalls Dot-winged Antwren, but Rio Branco Antbird is considerably larger.

Squat, cryptically-plumaged shorebird with a very long bill. Inhabits a wide range of wetland habitats, from damp meadows to saltmarshes. Mostly inconspicuous, feeding in muddy ground by probing with its bill, usually near reeds or other grassy cover. Often not seen until flushed, when it usually rises from fairly close range with a rough rasping call. Breeding birds are more conspicuous, perching on fence posts. In display flight, birds stoop from high overhead and produce a pulsating, bleating sound from air passing through their fanned tail. In Asia, beware of extremely similar Pin-tailed, Swinhoe's, and Latham's Snipes, all of which lack the white trailing edge of Common and have a slower, less erratic flight.

Small, stocky flycatcher with broad, flat bill. Occupies canopy and midstory of forest edges, gardens, and tall second growth in humid lowlands. Has gray crown, pale yellow underparts, and yellow edgings to wing feathers (but not wingbars). Very similar to a few other species of flycatchers, particularly Yellow-margined and Yellow-olive Flycatchers; best distinguishing features include its pale eye, lack of a yellow patch at the base of the primaries, and voice. Call is a loud, quickly rising whistle: “tuee?”, higher and cleaner than similar calls from species like Brownish Twistwing and Blue-backed Manakin, but not as high as the “twee-twee” of Purple-throated Euphonia.