Plain-backed Antpitta

A stocky egret that is larger than Western Cattle and Little Egrets, but smaller than the Great Egret. Often confusing and difficult to identify, this bird is truly intermediate between potential confusion species. Things to look for include a yellow bill (brighter during breeding season) that is shorter than Great Egret but longer than Cattle Egret, a relatively rounded head, and shorter legs than Great Egret, approaching Cattle Egret. Like most egret species, associates with all types of water bodies including wet fields, often flocking with other egrets.

The palest thrasher; entirely light tan with whiter throat. Undertail coverts peach colored. Bill dark and strongly curved; eye dark. Found in dry flat deserts with open ground, often seen running between patches of low bushes. Shy and difficult to see well. Song similar to other thrashers, often with doubled or tripled notes; tends to be rather slow.

Rare vireo found only in lush Andean cloud forest in northwestern Ecuador and western Colombia. In contrast to the much more common Brown-capped Vireo, it has pale wingbars and may show an ochraceous wash on the throat and breast. Often accompanies mixed-species flocks high in the canopy, where it can be hard to see well. Song is a quick series of sweet-sounding notes that vary in pitch unpredictably.