Donaldson Smith's Sparrow-Weaver

A large dark pigeon of forests with a proclivity for perching high in trees while still not in clear view. Found throughout a variety of forested habitats at most elevations, generally most common in intact primary lowland and montane forest, but can be seen along a variety of forest edge and secondary forest types. Dark-slate gray body differs from the Plain Pigeon, which is distinctly paler, and it lacks the white crown of White-crowned Pigeon. It is somewhat skittish in most areas, perhaps due to hunting and is often first detected by a loud flapping of wings as it takes flight or by its low-pitched “wooo hooo” and “wudu-hoo hoooooo” songs. ​

Warm brown above and pale below; strong dark eyestripe contrasts with white eyebrow. Smallish reed warbler with long and strongly rounded tail, short bill with dark tip, and short primary projection. Difficult to separate visually from other small Acrocephalus warblers, especially Blunt-winged Warbler; note Paddyfield’s more prominent pale eyebrow which strengthens behind the eye, as well as longer-winged appearance. Also compare with Iduna warblers. Breeds in extensive reed beds; in nonbreeding season found in marshes, but also more scrubby areas. Distinctive, melodious song.

Rare brushfinch with a highly restricted range in the eastern Andes of central Peru. It has an ornate head pattern with a partial black mask bordered by chestnut, black-and-white mustache stripes, and a white spot between the eye and the bill. The only similar species is Apurimac Brushfinch, which is found farther southeast and has a smaller mask and thinner black mustache. Black-spectacled inhabits scrubby areas at the forest edge. Song is a series of rich, wheezing notes.