Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch

Large, chunky, dark antbird restricted to northern Colombia and western Venezuela. Male entirely black with namesake blue lores and triangular patch of paler bluish skin behind eye. Female similar but warm dark brown instead of black. Long broad tail often strongly flicked downward and raised back up slowly. Usually seen in pairs, which forage close to the ground within forest. Can be shy and difficult to see. Sometimes follows ant swarms, but frequently seen away from them. Found mainly in the foothills and lower subtropics, up to 1,800 m. Listen for a mourning series of plaintive whistles, “teew, teew, teew, teew.”

A plump, large-headed, brownish bird with an extremely long tail. Plain overall with no distinctive plumage features; look for pale eye and stubby bill. Difficult to see, but often heard giving an accelerating series of hard chip notes. Usually solitary or in pairs. Skulks through low, dense vegetation, especially chaparral. Restricted to the Pacific coast of North America, from Oregon to northern Baja. Not closely related to any other species in the Western Hemisphere. Might be confused with Bushtit, but larger and much different behavior and vocalizations.

Widespread but often local large wren with pronounced geographic variation in appearance. Usually in small groups, less often in pairs. Mainly found in thorn forest and dry scrubby habitats, but also sometimes in more humid scrub and semiopen areas. All populations have boldly barred wings and tail and bright rusty nape patch. On coastal slope of Chiapas compare to Giant Wren, but note the general lack of barring and larger size of that species. Often detected by its marvelous loud song, which consists of various bubbly, whistled, nasal, or harsh notes and is often given by multiple birds at once.