Taiwan Hwamei

A small and difficult to identify woodcreeper, widespread but often rare and seldom encountered. Smaller than most other woodcreeper species in range (slightly larger than Olivaceous Woodcreeper), with a relatively short, straight bill and weakly marked brown plumage. Note the faint pale streaking on the head and spots on the throat. Best found and identified by voice, a fast, even trill lasting between 1-2 seconds and usually heard at dawn.

A gray and brown bird with a long, wispy tail restricted to the Perijá Mountains along the Colombia-Venezuela border. Separated from Streak-backed Canastero by having a plain back, no orange chin patch, and a longer tail with thinner feathers. Inhabits dense thickets at high elevations near and above tree line. Gives a series of piping notes that quickly rises in pitch and then speeds up into a trill.

Twisting and turning on long, angular wings, this relative of the sandpipers and plovers gives a swallowlike impression in flight. Adults are brown overall with an elegant black necklace and pale yellow throat. When in flight, note dark flight feathers, chestnut underwing coverts, bright white trailing edge to the wings, and a flashing white rump. Juveniles are a mottled gray-brown above and lack the adult's necklace. Flight call a harsh “tarrack.”