Band-tailed Seedeater

A small, long-billed, long-tailed bird of dense tangled undergrowth in lowland and foothill forest and bamboo in northern Luzon. Has olive-green wings, back, and tail, a pale gray belly, a gray chest with streaks, a rufous cap reaching below the eye, and orange legs. Very similar to Gray-backed Tailorbird, but has a white throat and a green back. Gives an explosive note followed by a rattling trill, “jwit! brrrrrrrrrr,” or a sharp note and a descending trill, “wik! Briii-yat!”

Anis are bizarre, coal-black cuckoos with long floppy tails and unique, curiously tall, flattened bills. Smooth-billed occurs in a variety of open and semi-open habitats in tropical lowlands and foothills, typically staying low in shrubs and grasses. Gregarious and not particularly graceful; usually seen crashing around awkwardly in small groups. Flies with choppy wingbeats and long glides. Widespread and common throughout much of South America and the Caribbean, extending as far west as the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and north to Florida. Compare with the very similar Groove-billed Ani, which overlaps in some areas of Central and South America. Note especially the bill shape: Smooth-billed often (but not always) has a taller ridge on the top of the bill, and a sharper angle on the lower edge of the bill. The sides are typically smooth, rarely with weak grooves. Voice is also important: listen for a rising, hawklike whistle with an inflection at the end. Dark eye, size, and habitat help separate from Greater Ani in South America and Panama.

Large rusty brown pigeon with faint pale speckles on its plumage. In flight shows white wing panels, and flies with a loud clattering of wings. Found only on the sandstone areas of the Kimberley and Ord-Victoria regions. Often roosts on high rocky cliffs or on top of sandstone towers; comes down to the sandy ground in the early morning and evening.