Maroon-breasted Philentoma

Large pale-brown kestrel. Gray tail has broad black bands, and the back is heavily marked with black. Found in semi-desert, grassland, and arid savanna. Often perches conspicuously in an isolated tree. Calls are high-pitched squealing notes and much lower barks. Larger than all other kestrels, but similar in size to smaller falcons. Uniform brownish color is distinctive.

Small, brown bird of Andean cloud forest. Quite rare and apparently absent from many areas of seemingly appropriate forest. It has faint, pale streaking on the breast, a partial eye-ring, and a short white stripe behind the eye. Similar to Streaked Xenops, but bill is not upturned and lacks “whisker” stripes. Creeps along branches in middle levels of the forest, and often follows mixed-species flocks. Song is a quick series of high-pitched “tick” notes.

Very retiring and elusive cuckoo of tropical forest, heard far more often than seen. Sings mainly in spring and summer, and at other times appears absent from areas where it may actually be fairly common. Feeds mostly on the ground, walking stealthily, but usually sings from mid-upper levels in trees, when it is most likely to be seen. Oddly shaped, with small head (rusty crest often raised and lowered) and very long, fan-shaped, (‘pheasant-like’) tail.