White-bellied Fantail

A powerful-looking swift with long saber-shaped wings and a bullet-shaped body. The only swift in its range that combines a clean white throat and smooth pale gray back. At close range, the fine white forehead and bluish tinge to the back are also visible. Flies higher than most other swifts during migration, often circling over mountaintops and valleys with kettles of migrating birds of prey. Less erratic and bat-like in flight than other swifts. Call is a high-pitched, screaming twitter.

Small flycatcher found in canopy of lowland and foothill forest in northwestern Ecuador and southwestern Colombia. It has olive-green upperparts, pale gray underparts, yellow spectacles, and yellow fringes to the wing feathers. May overlap with the very similar Golden-faced Tyrannulet in the western Andes of Colombia; in that region, ID is best confirmed by voice. Vocalizations include a soft whistle repeated every few seconds and a quick series of rising notes. Perches conspicuously high in the trees, and often holds its tail partly cocked.

A large, robust cuckoo with a black body and rufous wings. The head is pure black in breeding plumage and streaked white in non-breeding plumage. Found in a wide variety of habitats, including forest, scrub, plantations, savannah, and marsh. Generally skulks in thick vegetation, anywhere from the ground to high in the canopy, though will sometimes sing from an exposed perch. “Water bottle” song is a beautiful descending series of “boop” notes. Call is a long, dry rattle. Size, shape, and dark coloration make it distinctive within its range.