Orange-banded Thrush

One of the most common and conspicuous of the Galápagos finches. Bill is at least as long as the bill is deep, with the upper edge slightly rounded. Lower edge of bill is mostly straight. Bill is moderately stout-looking, but bill size varies between individuals, and not all birds can be accurately identified. Bill is black on breeding male and dull orange on female and nonbreeding male. Male’s plumage is sooty-black; female is brown with paler underparts that are streaked with gray. Large Ground-Finch’s bill has bulbous appearance and usually forms a ridge where it meets the crown. Small Ground-Finch’s bill is smaller and more pointed. Found in a wide variety of habitats on most islands, but absent from Española and Genovesa.

Small songbird, dull brownish-olive above, pale below, with prominent white supercilium, black eyeline, and faint, narrow wingbars. Vertical tail pumping distinguishes this species from most others in its range except Sakhalin Leaf Warbler. Favors the lower stories of vegetation more than most other leaf warblers, often descending down to the ground while foraging. A high-pitched cricket-like trill of a song distinguishes this species from the nearly identical Sakhalin on migration (no overlap in breeding range). Calls of the two species are similar, and can only be differentiated reliably using a spectrogram; Pale-legged’s call is marginally higher in frequency. Breeds in sparsely wooded areas, particularly in valleys and hills; can be seen in a wide range of wooded habitats outside of breeding period.

Small woodpecker with a green back, broadly striped underparts, and a strongly striped face. The back of the crown is red in males. Found in lowland rainforest and secondary growth. The common call is a fast, high-pitched rattle. Also gives slower, lower-pitched “krek” notes and a fast, slightly fading drum. Very similar to the local subspecies of Gabon Woodpecker in the narrow area of overlap. Separated by broader brown streaking below and cleaner, less streaked face. Similar to other green-backed rainforest woodpeckers, but easily separated by the heavily striped underparts.