Northern Brownbul

A small bird with a long blue tail that is held cocked. Breeding males are usually brilliant sapphire blue with bright white wing patches. Females and nonbreeding males are very plain pale gray, and the patch between the eye and bill (lores) is also pale (compared to Purple-backed Fairywren which has very dark reddish lores). This species is typically found in very open and arid country with sparse bushes, where it often perches on the very top of bushes. Its call is a very fast trill.

This rare chickenlike bird has an exceptionally small range on the border between Panama and Colombia. Found on the ground in mature forest from around 1,000–1,400 m. Dark brown overall with a black head, a whitish face and eyebrow merging with a buffy nape, and a white band across upper chest. Lives in small groups, which can be difficult to see. Listen for the rollicking whistled song, typical of wood-quail.

Handsome antwren found in the canopy of lowland rainforest in eastern Ecuador, northeastern Peru, and southern Colombia. Male is gray with black crown, eye-stripe, and upper tail; wings are black with white bars and tail has white edges. Female is similar but with a brown crown and buffy or yellowish wash on breast. Compared to Ancient Antwren, male Dugand’s lacks yellow on underparts, and female has a brown crown. Usually seen with mixed-species flocks very high in the trees. More easily seen from a canopy tower or walkway if one is available. Song is a fast, accelerating series of dry “chup” notes.