Venezuelan Flycatcher

Immense and imposing owl of dense wet lowland and hill forests. Silver-gray adult is majestic, with a large yellow bill, black eyes, and sweeping sidewards-facing “horns.” Juvenile is much paler, almost white, with shorter tufts. Gives deep echoing hoots. Primarily nocturnal, but will on occasion hunt by day; takes prey as large as small deer.

Medium-sized brown raptor of montane habitats. Shows thick dark brown streaking on the underparts. In flight, the underside of the wing is streaked brown at the front and solidly white at the back, with a rim of black. Found in mountain forest and adjacent open habitats. Often soars. The call is a piercing whistle. Very similar to the migratory Common Buzzard, but never shows red in the tail, and always has a pattern of heavy dark brown streaks below.

Rather inconspicuous “finch” that is actually a tanager; found very locally on bogs and rocky slopes of the high Andes. Usually in pairs (sexes look similar) or small groups, feeding quietly on the ground and not associating with other seed-eating birds. Gray overall; white throat patch not as bold and contrasting (unlike throat patch on Glacier Finch, which occurs in the same areas). Note plain gray head and big black panel on closed wing. Immature has brownish wash to back; compare with immature Red-backed Sierra Finch.