Brazilian Laniisoma

Dark, rusty-brown bird of shady forest floors in humid evergreen forest of tropical foothills and highlands; often near gullies and streambeds, where digs its nest burrow into earth banks. Feeds by tossing leaves on the forest floor. Mostly seen as it flushes, when it flies off with loud “skweek” calls. Note the long slender bill, rich rusty throat and breast, and dark rusty rump. Listen for descending series of squeaky whistles. Widespread across much of South America, to southeast Brazil.

Medium-sized, beautifully-patterned francolin. Shows rufous patches in the wings in flight. Found on the ground in areas with thick grass, ranging from pure grassland to lush woodland. Mostly at low and moderate elevations, but sometimes found in high mountain grassland. Call is a rhythmic up-and-down repeated “chil-it, chil-chow”. Generally scarce, shy, and retiring. Range does not overlap extensively with similar francolins. Combination of complex facial pattern and belly heavily barred black-and-white are always diagnostic. Much more cleanly and boldly marked than the more washed-out and buffy Whyte’s Francolin.

Large modestly-colored terrestrial bird of open woodlands, scrublands, and meadows in alpine areas. Brown overall with a peaked head, chestnut throat, and bright red skin around the eye. Body intricately patterned, with fine black spotting on breast and white edging on wings and flanks. Similar Szechenyi’s Partridge does not overlap in range. Song is a messy cacophony of twanging, nasal, and slurred notes.