Pygmy Swiftlet

An endemic small finchlike species of north-eastern Brazil, notable for its thick bill. Males have a white throat that wraps around the side of the head, a black breast band, and gray-black upperparts. Note the male’s large yellow bill and white wing spot. Females are similar to other seedeaters being rather nondescript olive-brown above and buffy below. Inhabits scrubby savannah, dry woodlands, and adjacent open areas; often mixing with others seedeaters.

Fairly common locally on the Falklands and on remote and largely inaccessible islands south and west of Tierra del Fuego. Habits much like other caracaras; walks with agility to scavenge for food, and sails, soars, and tumbles easily on updrafts. Plumage dark overall, but with whitish wing panels visible in flight. Adult has fine silvery streaking (striations) on neck and breast, a yellow face, and a pale bill; immature is browner with duller streaking and a dark bill.

Large and striking vireo with stout hooked bill. Olive above and yellow below with distinctive gray-and-yellow head pattern and staring green eye. Sexes similar. Fairly widely distributed in northern South America, where it ranges from lowlands to subtropical forest, up to about 1,800 m. Not easy to see because it stays high in the canopy, where its repetitive whistle is often the harbinger of an incoming mixed-species flock.