Ochre-fronted Antpitta

A rather distinctive small green songbird with a yellow face, a bold black line through the eye, black scalloping on the crown, and streaked light yellow underparts. Juveniles plainer, with little or no streaking on crown and underside. Found in pairs or groups in forest within lowlands and foothills, usually occupying the canopy or subcanopy. Combination of streaked underside and absence of white eye-ring is unique among white-eyes in range. Call is a penetrating, rowdy monotonous squabbling: “wikikikikikikiki….”. Also gives a weak “seer” call.

Distinctive and handsome orange-breasted finch. Note black head of males (solid in breeding season, patchy in non-breeding) and gray-and-brown head of females. Complex wing patterns and white rump patches create a wondrous show when a flock rises up in flight. Breeds in northern woodlands, especially in and around birches; winters in varied wooded habitats (especially with beech trees), semiopen country, and farmland with hedges; sometimes visits gardens and parks with feeders or fruiting trees. Song is surprising and almost ugly for such a well-marked finch, a strange ringing buzz: “eerRRRRNnnn.” Gives a rising “qweee”, a higher-pitchd “tsi, tsi”, and various twittering and nasal flock calls.

Common piculet of coastal forests. Note short-tailed profile, large feet, and cone-shaped bill. Found in mangroves, gardens, abandoned plantations, and disturbed areas. Creeps quietly through vine tangles and bores into dead twigs at lower and middle levels. Similar to Golden-spangled and White-barred Piculets, but Arrowhead has chevron-shaped spots (not barring) on the breast and belly, and is strictly confined to coastal habitats.