Gray-headed Parrotbill

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.

Plain brown thrush-sized bird of the Monte desert region of western Argentina. Note shorter, thicker bill than canasteros, miners and thornbirds. Tail generally held cocked upward. Generally terrestrial or in ground-level vegetation, individually or in pairs.

Long-tailed, long-legged understory bird with a reddish cap. Found in dry deciduous forest at low elevations in western Madagascar. Sometimes uses degraded forest. Rather shy, and quickly walks away from any disturbance. Most common calls are an explosive, ascending series of whistles and a low-pitched “hoo-hoo-hoo”. Similar to Coquerel’s Coua, but has longer tail and legs, and lacks the rufous belly of Coquerel’s. Smaller than Giant Coua, without its rufous belly and pink facial skin.