Brown-backed Solitaire

Gray bird with a yellow bill and legs found in arid areas of northwestern Peru. Despite its name, it is currently placed in the tanager family, though its thick, stubby bill does give it a finch-like look. Young birds have less black on the face than adults, and paler bill and legs. Similar to Band-tailed Sierra Finch, but has a stubbier bill and lacks brown streaks on the back. Most common in deserts with scattered small trees, though also occasionally found in denser forest.

Giant, upright, barred antpitta of cloud forest. Long and heavy bill, gray crown and nape, brown forehead and upperparts, and buffy throat. Underparts and cheeks ochre with strong black barring. Sexes similar. Rare and difficult to see even when singing. Mostly in darker understory in very wet cloud forest rich in palms, on the floor or at mid-levels. Song is a long, trilled “Br’ur’ur’ur’ur’ur’ur’…” ending abruptly, very similar to Undulated Antpitta but more uniform in pitch and pace. Also very similar in plumage to Undulated Antpitta, which has a smaller bill and body size, as well a blackish moustache and less contrast between forehead and crown than Great. Endemic to Venezuela with three isolated populations.

Uncommon, medium-sized pheasant. Male is almost unbelievable-looking; an immense fan of a snow-white tail sticks out of a rotund, coal-black body. All-rufous-brown female is more normal-looking; her tail is shorter and narrower. Both sexes have sky-blue facial skin, but the male’s extends into wattles, which he erects during display. Found in hilly areas in foothill and montane forest; sometimes nomadic, seeking out fruiting trees.