Spectacled Finch

Enormous parrot with a long pointed tail, a red head and body with mostly blue wings and green wing coverts. It has a white face with distinct red stripes. Only possible confusion species is Scarlet Macaw, which has yellow (not green) wing coverts and lacks red stripes on the face. Found in lowland rainforests from eastern Panama to Paraguay. Usually found in pairs, flying over the forest and perching in the canopy. Can gather in small groups, especially at fruiting trees or clay licks. Nests in cavities. Listen for raucous calls, typical of large macaws.

A medium-sized iridescent blue-green glossy starling with a dark ear-patch and contrasting royal blue to violet flanks and belly. Pairs and small groups occupy savanna, where they feed on the ground and in trees on fruit and insects; occasionally up to 300 may gather at fruiting trees. Often the species scavenges from people. It gives a cat-like nasal “squuee-aar” contact call that is distinctive. The similar Lesser Blue-eared Starling differs from Greater Blue-eared Starling by being smaller with a more compact head and finer bill, by having a smaller ear-patch, and by preferring broadleaf woodland. The Cape Starling differs from the “blue-eared” starlings by having greener ear-patches, belly, and flanks.

Shy, furtive bird that is heard far more often than seen. Shaped like a large manakin; mostly plain greenish-brown with unique large-eyed look. Found in mature rainforest and older second-growth. Often alone but may follow mixed-species flocks; takes low perches and looks around slowly; consumes fruit and insects. In premontane forests of the tepui region, compare with Olive Manakin; schiffornis is substantially larger and more brownish. Call is a slurred, sharply inflected whistle given at long intervals and easily imitated.