Retz's Helmetshrike

A fairly small owl of lowland and foothill forest and edge. Brown on the head and upperparts with a slight speckled effect, and whitish below with thick reddish-brown streaks. Note bright yellow eyes and long whiskers around the face. Similar to Chocolate Boobook, but Luzon is much smaller and lacks any white on the chest. Voice includes a single short, descending “boo!” repeated at intervals, and a short phrase “boo! wup-wup boo!”

Distinctive antpitta found only in high-elevation cloud forest on the east slope of the Andes in northern Peru. Adult has chestnut upperparts, gray underparts, a black face and throat, a chalky white bill, and a red eye. The rarely-seen juvenile is mostly gray with cinnamon barring. Inhabits forest understory in areas with abundant bamboo. Suitable habitat near roads has been mostly cleared for farmland, so seeing this bird usually involves a tough hike over steep terrain. It usually stays on the ground unless singing. Song is a leisurely series of hollow hoots; the second note is typically lower in pitch than the others.

Small blue vanga that acts like a creeper or small woodpecker, feeding by climbing up tree trunks. Male is all blue, while female is greenish-blue on the back; both have a coral-colored bill. Madagascar endemic that is found in eastern rainforest at low and middle elevations. Usually in pairs, which are typically part of mixed flocks of other bird species. Most common call is a high, accelerating, slurred trill. Size, color, and tree-creeping habits make it distinctive.