Ecuadorian Tapaculo

Streaky brown bird of fields, scrubby edge, and dense thickets. This large but retiring warbler is most often seen as a flash of chestnut rump and long, trailing tail as it flushes from close proximity. Occasionally perches out into the open, sometimes even on telephone lines. Warm brown with black streaking all over; size, shape, and habitat distinguish this species from similarly-colored cisticolas, prinias, and babblers. Song usually starts off with a few sharp introductory notes, then descends into jumbled, rich warbling. Gives “piht” calls, often repetitively.

A huge black hornbill with a prominent knob on the bill, conspicuous red “gills” on the sides of the beak, a turquoise-blue throat pouch, and a white tail. Males have a red casque and rufous neck, females a yellow knob and black neck. Juveniles resemble male, but with an entirely yellow casqueless bill. Found in pairs or groups in canopy of forested and wooded areas of lowlands and hills. Larger and more colorful than Sulawesi Hornbill. Gives powerful, short “krok” notes and a more drawn-out “oooo-aa-ooo-aaa.”

Brown babbler with a pale belly and reddish eyes. Bicolored crown is rusty red towards the front and black towards the back. Unscaled rufous forecrown, faintly gray-streaked breast, and slightly larger size set it apart from Scaly-crowned Babbler. Moves through the middle level of forests, often as part of a mixed flock. Favors lowland habitat on Southeast Asian mainland and middle-elevation areas on Sumatra and Borneo. Song is a series of pretty, musical whistles: “weee hoo-wee-weeee weeee.”