Silver-eared Laughingthrush

Small, green vireo-like bird found in forests, woodlands, and shrubby areas where it regularly accompanies mixed-species flocks. Note the cinnamon crown contrasting with a streaky gray face, pale throat, olive-green upperparts, and paler underparts. Similar to Rufous-crowned Greenlet, but with gray rather than dark eyes. The song is a slow repetitive “tchui-tchui-tchui.”

Tiny little terrestrial flycatcher, common in open habitats of southern South America in summer, migrates north in winter. Feeds mainly by hopping on the ground, but perches readily on posts, fences, and low bushes. During migration times, sometimes found in small flocks mixed with other migrants of open country. No similar species in range: male is black with bright rusty back. The much plainer female is easily overlooked, but size, shape, and behavior distinctive, and is often with males.

A rather plain medium-sized dove, mostly restricted to western Ecuador but also occurs in western Colombia and extreme northwestern Peru. Within range, the main confusion species is White-tipped Dove. Pallid Dove has notably darker and warmer brown upperparts that contrast more with the whitish underparts. Like other members of the genus, Pallid is typically found on the ground (or flushing up into the understory). It is most often seen walking on roads or trails, or flying across quickly. There are a few places where it visits feeders. Within its limited range, it is fairly common, but be careful to separate from the equally (or more) common White-tipped Dove. Listen for its low-pitched, single “hoo” call.