Plain-colored Seedeater

Beautiful little flycatcher with a spiky crest found in the Andes of northern Peru, just barely reaching over the border into southern Ecuador. Male is quite distinctive with a solid black face, black-and-white streaking, and a long crest that sticks up in front of its white crown. Female and immature are grayer with less contrasting plumage and shorter crest; the orange bill might lead to confusion with Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, but Black-crested lacks brown on the back and yellow on the belly. Very similar to Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant, but Black-crested has broader white tips to the tail; also note its more northern range. Inhabits scrub and light woodland, often giving squeaks and rapid trills.

A tiny dark swift with a long, slender, pointed tail. Restricted to the Maracaibo basin of Venezuela, barely slipping over the border into Colombia in Norte de Santander. In flight note the dark body with pale gray throat and belly. Similar to Fork-tailed Palm-Swift, but Pygmy Swift is much smaller and has darker underparts. Usually in groups flying in circles at low levels close to grasslands, open areas, towns, always near palm trees.

Scarce, large trogon of pine and pine-oak forests in mountains and canyons of northwest Mexico. Usually rather wary, flying long distances when disturbed, but can be found feeding quietly at fruiting trees. Often perches with a hunchbacked posture. Note the rather small head with a grayish bill and mostly white underside to the tail. The "ears" are fine plumes on the sides of the head, rarely visible in the field. Also note the distinctive calls, very different from other trogons.