White-bellied Whistler

Tiny, cryptic woodland songbird, unique in North America. White below and streaked brown-and-buff above; blends into tree bark very easily. Also note narrow, decurved bill and long tail. In flight, shows a bold buffy wing stripe. When foraging, often starts near the base of a tree trunk, hitches upward in short, jerky motions until it nears the top, then flies to the base of a nearby tree to begin the process again. Found in mature woodland, especially with conifers. Often joins mixed flocks with other songbirds, especially in winter. Listen for high, thin calls and sweet cascading song.

Very small but stocky, quail-like bird of Patagonian steppe, sandy and stony plains in the Andes, coastal dunes, and deserts. Found in pairs or small groups; locally large flocks in nonbreeding season. Male has hooting song given from low mounds or fence posts, and sometimes during display flight. Flight is strong and fast; flushes with loud bleating chatters. Similar Gray-breasted Seedsnipe is larger, favors rockier Andean habitats, and has plain gray breast without diagnostic black Y pattern present on male Least Seedsnipes.

Attractive warbler of cloud forest and stunted treeline forest in the Andes. Common member of mixed-species flocks. Ranges from far southern Colombia south to Bolivia. Has slaty-gray upperparts, yellow underparts, and bold yellow spectacles. Crown is rufous in the northern half of its range, but solid black in the southern half. Some birds in northern Ecuador and southern Colombia have a yellow forehead. Actively forages along branches, often spreading its tail exposing white outer tail feathers.