Rusty-bellied Shortwing

Small, plump brown bird with a fairly long tail sometimes held cocked. Has lighter brown underparts, a faint white eyebrow, and black streaking on the face and throat. Found in rocky grasslands with short grass at high elevations, where it forages on the ground between patches of grass. Compared to the similar Cordilleran Canastero, Streak-throated has more prominent streaking in the face and throat and a brown tail (reddish brown in Cordilleran). Its song is a soft, short trill, and it also gives bursts of “pit” notes.

Remarkably tiny bird with very short, stubby bill. Upperparts gray-brown, underparts variably cream and yellow, with pale eyebrow and pale eye. Inhabits dry, open woodlands, especially eucalypt forests. Very vocal as it forages in trees, where it feeds primarily on insects, sometimes in mixed flocks with thornbills and pardalotes. Distinctive loud song, given year-round, often rendered “I’m a wee-bill!”

Small, slim seedeater of the southern Arabian highlands. Brown overall, with a buffy face and whitish underparts. , Note blurry pale eyebrow, fine dark streaks on the crown and upper back, and blotchy streaking on the underparts. Found in rocky montane areas, both with and without trees and shrubs. Sometimes on human structures. Usually in small groups. The song is a simple series of whistles and trills, and calls include rising “swiiit” notes, “chwee” notes, and dry rattles. Similar to Olive-rumped Serin, but has a stronger facial pattern and lacks an olive rump. Also tends to be found in more barren areas.