Javan Scimitar-Babbler

A beautiful but elusive rainforest francolin. The face is well marked with black and gray, the back is brown, and the underparts have bold white spots. Males are darker, chestnut on the back and black below; females are browner. Roams around on the ground of interior rainforests at low to middle elevations. Very shy and difficult to see well. Similar to Nahan’s Francolin, but separated by the dark bill, the lack of red bare facial skin, and the yellow rather than red legs. Most often detected by vocalizations, which include a bubbly descending series and a duet of nasal notes and repeated, descending phrases. 

Colorful barbet of lowland rainforest west of the Andes; scarce and declining in northwestern Ecuador, but more common in parts of southwestern Colombia. Male is black and yellow with red crown, white throat, and streaked flanks. Female is heavily spotted with black below, and has black and yellow streaking on head. Usually stays high in trees and often joins mixed-species flocks. Male sings a series of ten or more soft “boo” notes; he hunches over and looks like he’s retching while singing.

Small, cute, energetic nuthatch. Distinctive with bold black-and-white head pattern, blue-gray upperparts, and orangey belly. Males are brighter than females. Typically found in coniferous or mixed forests, often in mixed flocks with other songbirds. Creeps along tree trunks and branches, often upside-down. Nomadic; they sometimes move south in large numbers in fall and winter. Visits feeders. Listen for nasal calls.