Masked Tanager

A medium-sized, boldly-patterned, dark-and-white eagle. In flight the underwing is brown and white with a thick black hind edge, and the tail is mostly pale gray with a thick dark bar at the end; these combine to give it a unique plumage pattern in flight. Immature birds have entirely rufous underparts, including the underwings. Resident in semi-arid rangelands, savanna, and riverine forest, where it primarily hunts birds; francolins and guineafowls are favored. Fairly quiet, but occasionally utters a distinctive melodious “klooeee”.

A typical sparrow with a striped back, a gray crown and nape, and a black bib. The rufous rump is conspicuous in flight. The sexes are similar, though males are brighter overall and have more rufous on the face. Found locally in dry thorn savanna and cultivated areas, sometimes around human habitation. Similar to Somali Sparrow, but the male is separated by his gray crown and the female by her much more colorful overall plumage. Very similar to Kenya Rufous Sparrow, but not known to overlap in range, and Shelley’s is separated by its dark eye. The call is a cheerful “chirp” like that of other sparrows. 

An accomplished songster found in cloud forest along the east slope of the Andes in northern and central Peru. Some birds are almost entirely brown with faint black barring on wings and tail. Other birds have a variable amount of white on the face and forehead. Plumage is very similar to Sharpe’s Wren, which overlaps with it in northern Peru but is found mainly at lower elevations. In the area of overlap, voice is the best way to separate the two species. Peruvian Wren is often encountered in large family groups that move together through the lower and middle levels of the forest. Pairs sing elaborate duets consisting of rich whistles and trills. They also give rapid, frantic rattles when agitated.