Brown Bush Warbler

Small dark nightjar with very limited range in the highlands of Costa Rica and Panama. Few obvious plumage features: entire body is intricately patterned with dark brown, black, and buff. Pale corners to tail (white in male, buffy in female). Fairly common above around 1,500 m, where it can be found at the edge of cloud forest. Usually perches on a fence post or low branch. Strictly nocturnal, and easily detected by voice; listen for the trilled “whip, wee-per-wee!,” rising at the end. Closely related to whip-poor-wills further north.

This striking lapwing is best identified by its long yellow wattles, white belly, and gray head split down the center by a broad white crown stripe. In flight, the distinctive wings are almost entirely white with black tips. It prefers breeding and foraging on large permanent rivers with extensive sand banks but will also wander to smaller streams and pans. It utters a loud “kriiip” call when alarmed or defending its territory. The similar Wattled Lapwing differs from White-headed Lapwing by having a dark belly and red-based wattles.

A bright flycatcher found in marshes in the Andes from Colombia to Argentina. Yellow below and olive above, sometimes showing a hint of a dark mask and dull yellowish edges on the wing feathers. Distinctive in habitat, although could be confused with a female Masked Yellowthroat, which has a pinkish bill and legs. Forages singly or in pairs; can be difficult to see in dense marsh grasses. Mostly occurs from 1,000 to 3,500 m, but some appear to move into lowlands in the winter in southern part of range. Gives single nasal calls as well as a whirring noise produced by the wings.