Marañon Tyrannulet

A common and widespread thrush found in open woodland and forest edge across much of lowland South America. Nondescript: brownish overall with grayer crown, streaked throat, and dingy yellowish bill. Compare with Creamy-bellied Thrush, which is darker overall with dark lores and more contrasting throat streaking. Usually rather conspicuous; singles or pairs can often be seen hopping in the open or feeding in a fruiting tree.

This huge, macabre-looking stork has a massive dagger-like bill and naked pink head and neck that appear severely sunburned. A white ruff and loose inflatable skin on the neck add to its odd appearance. It soars effortlessly at great heights searching for food; note its white belly in flight. Marabous are equally content in wetlands or in dry bush; they are most frequently encountered lurking near carrion, as they attend kills of major predators and will opportunistically snatch scraps. They also readily scavenge around humans and waste dumps.

A medium-sized lark that has a rounded head lacking a crest, and a slightly decurved bill. Varies geographically: in the north there is a plain face pattern and diffuse pale streaking that is restricted to the breast; in the south a bold face pattern, and a heavily streaked breast with unstreaked flanks. Upperparts coloration varies from mostly pale sandy-pink to buff to sandy-brown, usually matching the prevailing soil color in the region. Pairs are found in the sand dunes of the Namib Desert, and on soft sands of semi-arid Karoo and coastal shrublands. The male sings from dunes or bushes, and in spring also performs an aerial flight display 10-30 meters above the ground, with deep wingbeats, fluttering, and dangling legs. The song is a distinctive rolling set of dry raspy introductory clicks, followed by whistles and trills. The slightly smaller and more boldly marked Karoo Lark has streaking extending to the flanks that is lacking in Dune Lark.