Makira White-eye

Anis are bizarre, coal-black cuckoos with long floppy tails and unique, curiously tall, flattened bills. Smooth-billed occurs in a variety of open and semi-open habitats in tropical lowlands and foothills, typically staying low in shrubs and grasses. Gregarious and not particularly graceful; usually seen crashing around awkwardly in small groups. Flies with choppy wingbeats and long glides. Widespread and common throughout much of South America and the Caribbean, extending as far west as the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and north to Florida. Compare with the very similar Groove-billed Ani, which overlaps in some areas of Central and South America. Note especially the bill shape: Smooth-billed often (but not always) has a taller ridge on the top of the bill, and a sharper angle on the lower edge of the bill. The sides are typically smooth, rarely with weak grooves. Voice is also important: listen for a rising, hawklike whistle with an inflection at the end. Dark eye, size, and habitat help separate from Greater Ani in South America and Panama.

A small, plump, and short-tailed manakin with a restricted range in Panama and western Colombia. Males are striking with a bright yellow throat and collar, a black cap, and a black back with greenish rump and belly. Females are entirely olive-green with red legs and dark bill and eye. Hybridizes with White-collared and White-bearded Manakins; hybrid males typically have yellow upper backs. Apparently no range overlap with similar Orange-collared Manakin. Occurs in dense understory of forest, second growth, and edges. Males gather in groups to display for females; otherwise most likely to be found at a fruiting tree or sitting quietly in the lower levels of forest.

Despite its exquisite coloration, this tiny finch is reclusive, generally uncommon, and seldom observed. Note emerald-green back and orange extending from the face down to the upper belly. Sky-blue forehead patch is much larger and brighter in males than females. Found in highland forests and forest edge; often associated with bamboo thickets.