White-breasted Nigrita

A thrush-sized songbird with a long powerful bill, an olive head and upperparts, a dark eye, and uniform yellow underparts. Juveniles duller and pale-eyed. Occurs in forest and plantations within the lowlands and foothills, typically in small groups. Restricted to the Togian Islands. Larger-bodied and heavier-billed than Citrine Canary-Flycatcher and Golden-bellied Gerygone. Gregarious and noisy, with loud vocalizations consisting of a complex combination of whistles, rasping calls, and warbles, often introduced with “chup” nasal notes.

Typical antpitta with long legs and short tail. Inhabits Andean cloud forest in Colombia, eastern Ecuador, and extreme northern Peru. Note chestnut upperparts and white underparts that may show a faint yellowish tinge. Terrestrial and heard far more often than seen. Typical song is three clear whistles, with a slight pause after the first note. It is easy to imitate.

Distinctive and attractive “finch” (actually a tanager); common in lowlands and foothills of central Chile and Argentina, uncommon south into Patagonia. Feeds on ground and often seen on gravel roadsides, lawns, and stony slopes, where it moves with a distinctive shuffling gait. Often in small flocks, associating readily with other seed-eating birds. Big white tail corners show in flight and when flushed off roadsides. Song of fairly loud, bright chips is given from perch such as atop a bush or wire.