Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker

This grosbeaklike bird is olive above and pale below with a variable amount of dark streaking on the underparts. Also look for a short white eyebrow and a hefty dark bill. Beware, some subspecies are nearly unstreaked below. Fairly widespread but usually uncommon from Costa Rica east to Venezuela and south to Peru. Occurs in the lowlands up to around 1,600 m, mostly in scrubby forest edge and second growth. Listen for sweet whistled song, sometimes with a burry tone.

A huge, ground-dwelling cuckoo, bane of coyotes. Streaky brown overall with a very long tail and short, shaggy crest. Surprisingly iridescent in good light, with purple and green tones on wings and tail. Usually seen on the ground in dry desert habitats with patches of thick vegetation; sometimes perches on fences or rocks, especially when singing. Runs swiftly after large insects, lizards, and other prey. Unmistakable in most of range; overlaps locally with Lesser Roadrunner in west Mexico. Greater has more streaking on the throat and center of breast, instead of clear buffy on Lesser. Listen for very low-pitched cooing song.

Distinctive large chunky shorebird of rocky coasts, adjacent sandy beaches and river mouths. The only all-dark oystercatcher in South America, readily identified by wholly dark plumage, long orange-red bill, thick pinkish legs. Found as singles and pairs, less often small flocks (mainly when roosting), and associates readily with Magellanic and especially American Oystercatchers. Loud piping whistles sound similar to American Oystercatcher.