Luapula Cisticola

Short-tailed antbird of forest understory. Both sexes have black face. Males are gray with white wingbars; females are brown above, buffy below, with cream wingbars and a white or buffy throat. Forages singly or in pairs low in the undergrowth of mature forest. Usually inhabits more mature forest than similar White-browed Antbird, but there is some overlap. Note differences in facial pattern; males lack the white eyebrow and females lack the orange eyebrow seen on White-browed Antbirds. Female Black-faced Antbirds also have browner underparts than White-browed. Listen for an even-paced series of 5–7 whistles that is slightly higher in the middle. In the southern part of its range, these whistles are pure-toned; in the north, they are harsher.

Fairly large green-backed woodpecker, with fine barring across the underparts and face. Found in moist montane forest, mostly above 1500m elevation. Very quiet bird that occasionally gives a “kwee” call. Similar to Fine-spotted Woodpecker, but found in different habitat, lacks a red or black stripe on the face, and also lacks barring in the wing and tail.

Small antbird found inside cloud forest along the east slope of Andes and in Venezuela’s coastal mountains. Male is black with small white spots on wings that usually form parallel lines; faint streaking on breast is almost impossible to see in the field. Female is very different, with chestnut upperparts and grayish underparts covered with broad, pale stripes. Inhabits forest understory. Usually heard before seen. Vocalizations include a rising and then falling series of notes, an abrupt churr, and a series of dry rattles.