Rufous Wren

Massive raptor with rather long, heavy bill; broad, plank-like wings; and relatively short, graduated tail. Looks like a flying barn door and soars with wings rather level (not slightly raised like Golden Eagle). Plumage dark overall. Adult has paler brown head and body, white tail, yellowish bill. Immature starts with mostly brown tail streaked white, blackish bill; attains fully white tail in about 4 years. Generally uncommon, mainly found along seacoasts and larger rivers (feeds predominantly on fish).

Males are black-and-orange like an oriole, but stockier with a very thick bill. Nonbreeding males, females, and immatures typically have an orangey wash across breast with fine dark streaking on sides. Underwing coverts are always yellow. Bill usually looks bicolored, darker above and paler below. Fairly common in a variety of woodlands including mountain forests, thickets along desert streams, and backyards. Winters in Mexico. Regularly visits feeders. Listen for sweet robinlike song and squeaky call. Compare females and immatures with extremely similar Rose-breasted Grosbeak, which is usually identifiable by range. Black-headed usually has sparser and finer streaking on the underparts and more orange tones.

A robust and beautiful forest-dwelling quail with a short crest and a stout bill. Mostly rufous-brown body, boldly scaled white below and streaked white above. White throat bordered by black collar.. Female lacks white dots and streaks, instead showing grayish underparts. Hard to see but easily detected by voice in small groups walking on floor of cloud forests, most often in mature forest with understory rich in palms. Sings loudly in duets or choruses. Marbled Wood-Quail has a bare orange ocular area and lacks white throat. Endemic two Venezuela with two isolated populations.