Mountain Chiffchaff

Large, chunky antbird. Male is jet black with a small white shoulder patch (sometimes difficult to see) and blue skin around the eye. Female is a striking rufescent-brown with a black hood and blue skin around the eye. Occurs in pairs in the dense understory of forest in the lowlands of the Amazon basin, east of the Andes. Look for the tail being pumped down and raised slowly up. Listen for the loud, ringing song.

A drab, medium-sized flycatcher. Brownish above and pale below, often with a light yellowish wash on the belly. Watch for constant tail-wagging, and also note duller wingbars than Empidonax flycatchers. Common and familiar throughout eastern North America, wintering as far south as southern Mexico. Usually seen singly or in pairs in relatively open habitats such as woodland edge, brushy fields, or edges of ponds. Often nests under eaves of buildings and other human-made structures. An early migrant, returning north to breed much earlier than other flycatchers. Listen for its harsh “FEE-bee” song in the spring, but don’t get confused by Black-capped Chickadee’s higher-pitched, sweet whistled song of a similar pattern!

Large, buffy shorebird with exceptionally long, upturned, bicolored bill. Overall warm coloration, especially bright on the wings in flight, helps separate from other godwits. Similar in color to Long-billed Curlew, but obviously different bill shape and darker legs. Breeds in wet prairies. During migration and winter, found in a variety of shallow wetlands, especially mudflats, beaches, and estuaries. Often in flocks with other large shorebirds like Willet and Whimbrel.