Crested Doradito

This enormous heron stands 1.5 meters tall and has a robust, dagger-like bill. The immature has rustier upperwings than the adult. Its flight is ponderous and labored. Goliath Heron inhabits large rivers, marshes, estuaries, and mangroves, hunting for large fish and other animals, stabbing them with an open bill. It has a distinct, barking “kowoork” call that can be heard from up to 2 km away. Purple Heron has similar plumage, but Goliath Heron is twice the size, has a much larger bill, and has a rufous (not blackish) top of the head.

Fairly common in the high Andes of central Chile and adjacent Argentina, where found at bogs, lakeshores, and along streams, usually with rocky slopes nearby. Migrates in winter to coast, where it occurs on rocky beaches. Relatively small and sprightly, often flicking wings and cocking its tail strongly, unlike the larger Dark-bellied and Seaside Cinclodes, which occur alongside in winter. Dark-bellied has bolder white head stripes and gray flanks (flanks brown on Gray-flanked!). Told from Buff-winged Cinclodes by colder plumage tones and white-streaked breast.

Dark, chunky barbet with an odd tuft of feathers on its forehead. The eye is pale in the eastern part of the range and dark in the west. Usually in small groups on and around dead trees in humid forest and secondary growth. The vocalizations include nasal “squeaky toy” calls, “peet” notes, and a dry rattle. Similar to Naked-faced and Bristle-nosed Barbets, but has a mostly feathered head and a dark bill. Sladen’s Barbet also has a dark bill, but Gray-throated is separated from that species by its feathered head.