Brown-headed Nuthatch

A unique, large desert lark. On the ground, plumage is unimpressive with spotted breast and overall sandy tones, but in flight a magnificent white-and-black pattern is exposed. Males are slightly brighter-patterned than females. Bill is long and downcurved. Constantly runs on its long legs. Breeds on sandy and stony plains and low hills. Resident or nomadic. Song is a beautiful ascending series on flutey whistles followed by a descending trill; often given in a dramatic vertical display flight.

A beautiful bunting of dry country. Note the black-and-white facial pattern, the gray back with russet streaks, the gray rump, and the yellow breast with pale sides. Found in dry thorn savanna, often in pairs. Similar to Golden-breasted Bunting, but found in drier habitat, and range overlap is minimal; look for Somali Bunting’s overall paler coloration, narrower black stripes on the face, grayer back and rump, and pale sides. The song is usually a short series of the same two-note whistled phrase, repeated. One call is a long, ascending whistle.

A standard Scytalopus tapaculo: plain dark gray with browner flanks and rump. Acts like a mouse, scurrying around on or near the ground within montane forest. Extremely limited range in the central Andes of Colombia. Far more often heard than seen. Listen for froglike churring song, given as a long series of short bursts.