Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush

Small dove with square tail. Found primarily in western Ecuador but also in far southern Colombia and northern Peru. Occurs in lowlands and foothills, where it is seen in pairs or small flocks in open agricultural areas or brushy woodland. Male is overall pale grayish-brown with a blue-gray crown and nape and black spots on the wings. Legs are pink. Female is similar to male but somewhat warmer brown, and she lacks gray on the head and has duller legs. In flight, both sexes lack rufous in the wings.

Jade-green pitta with densely striped, green underparts and a black mask. Male has an aquamarine-blue patch on the back of the crown and a dark purplish-blue one on the belly. Female lacks both of these features and instead has a pale orangish head. Like other pittas, forages deep in dense undergrowth and can be hard to see, especially in the limestone gullies and forested riversides it prefers. Predominantly a lowland species. Song is a brief, bubbly-sounding exclamation of three notes, akin to “chowee-wu!”. Call sounds rather like a single blare of a police car alarm.

Medium-sized, rather nondescript bird, plain dull brown with a tail that is usually held cocked. Note the orange throat patch. Inhabits arid areas with scrub and woodlands, where it forages both in trees and on the ground. The song is a high nasal trill. The similar Sharp-billed Canastero has a longer bill and tail and an indistinct eyebrow.