Yellow-headed Manakin

A large, long-billed woodpecker with an olive back, a bold facial pattern, and heavily marked underparts. The crown is black in the female and yellow in the male, though this yellow patch can be difficult to see. Found in rainforest and secondary forest at low and middle elevations. Calls include a fast whinnying call, a sharp “kwip,” and a series of similar notes. Also gives a distinctive drum that lasts about 3 seconds, beginning fast and then slowing. Similar to Bearded and Fire-bellied Woodpeckers, but there is very little overlap in range; Golden-crowned can be separated from Bearded by the unbarred back and from Fire-bellied by the lack of a red belly. Males further distinguished by their yellow crown. 

A large, long-tailed, iridescent blue-green to purple glossy starling with barred wings, and a round-tipped tail. Pairs, groups, and small flocks are resident in dry savanna, especially near thorn trees, where they have become common in camps and often associate with humans. The species feeds on the ground, walking with long strides and sitting low in trees, searching for insects, small vertebrates, and plant matter to eat. The similar Meves’s Starling differs from Burchell’s Starling by being bluer and smaller, with a more strongly graduated tail that is proportionately longer.

Large, plain tanager, gray overall with hints of olive-green in good light; note contrasting black wings with paler patch at base of primaries. A habitat generalist often found around palm trees and in open shrubby areas, gardens, and forest edges. Usually in pairs or small flocks, sometimes with other species. Often quite noisy and conspicuous; gives a series of sputtering squeaks or a single nasal “swee?”