Chestnut-capped Thrush

Rare antbird nearly endemic to the lowlands of eastern Ecuador. It was recently found in neighboring Colombia, and is likely to occur over the border in Peru as well. Male is pure black. Female is chestnut with a black hood. Both sexes are very similar to White-shouldered Antbird, but lack blue markings around the eye. Male also similar to male White-shouldered Antshrike, but lacks white wing markings and lives in different habitat. Cocha Antshrike is usually encountered in pairs that skulk low in swampy forest along the edge of ponds and sluggish creeks. Typical song is a fast, monotonous series of clucks.

Dark medium-sized rosefinch. Male is is dark pink with a lighter throat and eyebrow. Female is dark brown with light wingbars. Both sexes can be similar to Vinaceous Rosefinch, but note male’s different head pattern and female’s unstreaked underparts and noticeable wingbars. Forages on the ground in montane and hill forest, forest edge, and rocky meadows and slopes. Gives a wheezy sparrow-like “wheer.”

Diminutive brownish owl with short ear tufts and pale face narrowly bordered in black. Combination of overall brown coloration, yellow eyes, and small size distinguishes it from the larger Oriental and Japanese Scops-Owls. Like other scops-owls, often difficult to see; listen for its hiccuping hoots, given in a long series. Inhabits forests and adjacent edges throughout its range.