Black-backed Barbet

A chunky little bird of lowland forest in northern South America. Male is distinctive with a black body and bright golden head. The duller female can be very difficult to separate from other female manakins, but note pale bill and very drab coloration. Most often seen around male display sites, where several individuals gather to display for females. Otherwise more difficult to find; singles occur at lower to middle levels of forest, sometimes around fruiting trees.

A large sparrow with bold black stripes on a gray head, olive-brown upperparts, and whitish underparts with buffy gray tinge. Eyebrow whitish, usually paler face and median crown stripe. Sexes similar. Uncommon to locally common in scrub and forest border in very dry areas. Hard to see, often in pairs foraging in dense vegetation. Vocalization is a very high-pitched whistle. Very similar to Black-striped Sparrow, which has a grayer eyebrow and is slightly darker overall, as well an usually inhabiting more humid habitats than Tocuyo. Found only in northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.

Small but brightly-colored woodpecker with a spiky crest. Slight variation across its range, but all birds have a dark orangish face, dark chestnut wings, black-and-white-striped underparts, and a dark tail. Female duller overall, with a plainer face. Inhabits lowland and foothill forests, edges, and gardens, where it can be reasonably common. Often seen singly, but can be encountered in closely-foraging pairs. Favors tall thick trunks. Gives sharp “kek” or “week” call notes. Difficult to confuse with any other small woodpecker.