Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush

Adorable inhabitant of subalpine coniferous and mixed forests. Plain white face, extended black cap, and orange underparts are distinctive within its range. Mainly forages along trunks but can often be seen perched out on an exposed branch or treetop. Usually found in pairs or small groups. Follows other species in mixed species feeding flocks. Gives long extended bleats and single crisp notes.

Large, stocky, long-tailed sparrow. Uniform matte brown body, with buffy throat and orange undertail coverts. Also note reddish-brown crown and messy dark streaks on upper breast (usually with a dark central spot). Occurs in deserts and dry grasslands with scattered dense shrubs. Forages primarily for seeds by running and hopping on the ground. Visits feeders. Essentially no range overlap with the very similar California Towhee; also note Canyon has reddish crown and lacks rusty tones on face.

Small, creeping bird of highland forest canopy. Chestnut cap, wings, and tail contrast with olive-brown back and gray underparts. At close range, note somewhat decurved bill. Found only in humid highland forests of the tepui region (above 800 m), particularly in areas with heavy growth of mosses and epiphytes. Forages by hitching up large branches and tree trunks, and also creeps along limbs, inspecting bromeliads and bark crevices from which it gleans insect prey. Often encountered with mixed-species flocks. Voice is a long series of high tinkling notes, dropping in pitch and accelerating. No similar species occurs in tepui highlands.