Striated Thornbill

A medium-sized flycatcher that sticks to the understory in lowland and foothill forest from Panama to the Amazon basin of Brazil and Peru. Brown above and pale whitish-yellow below. Overall rather nondescript, but look for brighter rusty edging on the wing feathers and tail and a pale brownish eye. Regularly raises wings up while perched. Namesake twisted outer primaries are difficult to see. Most easily identified by voice, a loud, fairly low-pitched “teew!”

Handsome songster of tangles and thickets in lowland and foothill rainforest. It ranges widely in northern South America but is not found west of the Andes. Plumage varies geographically but always has black face, white throat, white eyebrow, and barred tail. In parts of its large range, it may also have white streaks on the face, a white belly, and/or a darker head. Pairs skulk in dense vegetation and are heard more often than seen. Song is a complicated series of hollow whistles, often given as a duet.

A wetland weaver with a narrow bill, dull olive upperparts, and yellow-orange underparts. Male has a dark hood that tapers to a “V” on the throat, surrounded by an orange wash, while female lacks the black hood and has a yellow forehead and olive crown. A localized resident that is fairly common but can be secretive in palm swamp, mangroves, and savanna fringes near the coast. Found in pairs and small groups. Song is a typical varied, jumbled weaver song, often ending with “chuka-chuka-chak.” The similar Slender-billed Weaver is smaller than Loango Weaver and has brighter underparts.