North Island Brown Kiwi

Medium-sized, streak-backed cisticola of uplands. Shows a rufous cap and rufous in the wing. Varies geographically in overall coloration, boldness of streaking on the back, and other traits. Found in grassland and savanna on rocky slopes with a mix of bushes, grass, and often aloes. Generally inconspicuous; seen singly or in pairs. Vocalizations include a short, explosive, accelerating trill, and rising wails. Very similar to Red-headed Cisticola, but has a different voice, a larger bill, more buffy underparts, and shows rufous in the wing. Also similar to Rattling Cisticola, but has more rufous in the face and a longer tail. As with all cisticolas, habitat and voice are important cues in identification.

Well-attired small songbird typically associated with mid- to high-elevation farms, fields, and open forests throughout its range. Found in less intensively developed areas than House and Eurasian Tree Sparrows, sticking to villages and pastures and staying away from large city centers. Male has bright chestnut cap and back, whitish cheek, narrow black throat, and pale gray belly. Female brownish with broad streaks above, pale below, with white wingbars and broad tan supercilium.

A tiny antwren with a very short tail. Looks like a ping-pong ball bouncing around the middle levels and canopy in lowland forest and edge. Occurs from Panama to Peru and Brazil. Male has a pale yellowish belly, bold black-and-white striping on the head and back, and thick white wingbars. Female is similar, but has a buffier head and upper breast. Best distinguished from Pygmy Antwren by voice. Listen for the long series of piping whistles that accelerates slightly at the end. The series is longer and doesn’t accelerate as rapidly as Pygmy. Also note thicker black mustache stripe and eyeline on Moustached Antwren.