Western Crested Berrypecker

Hardly bigger than a sparrow, this odd little ground bird has a disproportionately loud song. The booming hoots the female gives during the breeding season are often the easiest way to find this species in the open grassy habitats it occupies. Females are more vividly colored than males, with a bright orange breast and nape, yellow belly, white throat, and speckled gray upperparts. Males have a faded version of the same general color scheme, but have less spotting on the breast and a tan throat.

A small to medium-sized bird of forest and scrub from lowlands to low elevations in the mountains, with a long curved bill. Has a preference for plantain flowers. Overall olive-green in color, grading to pale yellow on the belly, with golden-olive in the wing and faint streaking on the chest. Note the bare orange skin coming down from the base of the bill. Birds in the east-central part of the range have an additional naked orange patch just above the bill. Somewhat similar to Orange-tufted Spiderhunter, but Naked-faced is larger and darker below. Voice includes a rough, grating trill, “grrrrrrr!”

A large brown owl with wide yellow eyes and sideways-drooping ear tufts; rich tawny brown plumage with black mottling unique in its range. Always found in close proximity to rivers or lakes, usually roosting in dense waterside groves by day. Hunts fish from a low perch at dusk and at night. Hunting birds are seldom observed, as they hunt from tangles and other dense vegetation. Other horned owls in range are either much smaller (Long-eared Owl, scops-owls) or much larger (Eurasian Eagle-Owl). Pairs duet, giving 2-3 deep hoots; younger birds beg with higher-pitched screeching calls.