White-winged Magpie

Extremely secretive inhabitant of wet grassland, meadows, and hayfields, mainly in wilder areas. Distinctive song can draw attention, given mainly early and late in the day, also often at night. It is a rasping double-noted croak, repeated on and on, suggesting a pen being drawn across a comb, or a raspy duck quack. Plumage brownish overall with gray face and breast, stout pinkish bill; in flight shows bright rusty wings.

Little-known swift found mostly in mountainous areas, though flocks occasionally venture into lowlands. All dark with short square tail and angular wings. Namesake white spots on forehead and behind eyes are distinctive, but these can be extremely difficult to see. Many swifts are best left unidentified. Sex and age variation not well known; some birds, maybe juveniles, can show whitish scaling on belly. Occasionally seen singly or mixed with flocks of other swifts, but most often in monotypic flocks of up to several dozen individuals. Voice can be helpful with practice; typically a staccato chatter followed by “pew pew pew” notes like a laser gun.

Tiny and charismatic hermit hummingbird. Note a very contrasting black mask. Dark-olive above and cinnamon below and on the rump. Males have an incomplete black breast band and a shorter tail and wings than females. Common in the lower strata of forests and forest edges where it is fond of Heliconia flowers.