Large Wren-Babbler

Medium-sized, dark raptor with distinctive shape. Adult plumage is entirely slate gray with red legs; immature similar but shows some pale barring on underparts and tail. Note contrasting yellow eye and exceptionally long, decurved bill; in flight, shows very short tail, broad wings, and lack of any white in plumage. Inhabits swampy forests, where it perches quietly at lower and middle levels, preying on snails. Soars frequently but seldom high or for very long (note distinctive flight profile). Call is an explosive single note, falling in pitch and with complaining quality, much like call of Roadside Hawk but more nasal. Most similar to Snail Kite but has yellow (not red) eye, shorter tail with no white, and is generally found in and over closed-canopy forest habitats that Snail Kite avoids.

Noisy and well-named jay of Andean cloud forest. Range is mostly confined to Ecuador, but it does reach adjacent areas of Colombia and Peru. Plumage is bright turquoise-blue with a black mask, black breast band, and whitish forecrown. Very similar to Black-collared Jay (limited range overlap), but brighter blue, especially on crown and throat. Told from Beautiful Jay by the breast band and lack of dark gray on back and breast. Small groups move conspicuously through the forest giving an impressive variety of calls, including screeches, churrs, and mews.

Small, plump, and short-tailed. Unmistakable male is glossy black with clean white cap. Female is dull olive-green and similar to other manakins; look for contrasting grayish head and brownish-red eye. Found in the lower or middle levels of forest, often at a male display site or a fruiting tree. Widespread from Costa Rica through much of northern South America.