Sentinel Lark

A rare and poorly known chickenlike bird restricted to remote areas in extreme southeast Panama and northwest Colombia. Like other forest-based tinamous, this species walks on the ground and is very difficult to see. Occurs in mature foothill forests up to around 1,500 m. Dark brown overall with a blackish head, a slightly paler throat, and some darker barring on the belly and back. Legs reddish. Listen for its low mournful whistle that rises slightly at the end.

Handsome blue-and-black jay of tropical forests, woodlands, and gardens endemic to west Mexico. Usually in small groups, which can be noisy and conspicuous or very quiet and easily overlooked; often with Yellow-winged Caciques. Around the town of San Blas (in Nayarit, Mexico), appreciably larger Purplish-backed Jay occurs at southern end of its range (and northern end of San Blas Jay’s range). Purplish-backed is deep purplish blue on back and tail, not strikingly two-toned blue-and-black like San Blas Jay, and has bright yellow legs. Voices also very different. Purplish-backed occurs in mangroves and adjacent woodlands in and around town while San Blas Jay occurs in foothill forest of coffee plantations south of town.

This tanager inhabits lowland and foothill rainforest and is almost always encountered with large mixed-species flocks. Male is burnt-orange with black hood and wings: somewhat reminiscent of an oriole. Female is drab, confusing, and rather variable, but she is usually darker tawny or ochraceous on the belly and rump compared to females of similar species; also note hooked bill. Quite vocal, often giving a repeated “cheer” and an abrupt rattle.