Boulder Finch

Small, short-tailed bird found in lowland and foothill rainforest. Male is easy to identify with his glossy black body and azure crown. Female is mostly lime green with a yellowish belly; her plumage is much greener than other similar species such as Choco Manakin and female Red-capped Manakin. Most common call is a short, ringing trill. Male’s display song is a buzzy “purwit!”. Usually seen at lower to middle levels in the forest, plucking berries from fruiting trees. Formerly called Blue-crowned Manakin before that species was split. Velvety Manakin’s range includes Costa Rica, Panama, western Colombia, and northwestern Ecuador.

A rather plain cloud forest thrush found in widely scattered locations in South America. Plumage is warm brown with a paler belly. The yellow eyering and yellow lower half of bill are also good ID clues, and it may also show a buffy or cinnamon tinge on head, wings, and/or throat. Feeds mainly on fruit and is easy to overlook when not singing. It gives a series of raspy and fluting notes that alternate between higher and lower pitches.

A chunky bird with a notably thick bill. Shows lots of geographical variation. For example, birds in some areas are grayish with a black bill, pale face, and dull cinnamon wash below; in other areas birds are dark brown on the upperparts and rich rufous below with a pale bill. Found at low and middle elevations in a variety of humid forest, including secondary forest, swamp forest, and mangroves. Rich, melodious, variable song consists of several penetrating whistles, generally in an up-and-down pattern, often ending with one or more exuberant upslurred notes. Calls include “chek” and “whit” notes. Somewhat similar to Rusty Pitohui, but smaller, with a dark rather than pale eye. Similar in size and shape to Sooty Shrikethrush and Black Pitohui, but never as uniformly dark. Also similar to Gray Shrikethrush, but smaller and browner, with some breast streaking.