Bicolored Antpitta

A handsome small finch that appears very dark with a bright white belly patch. Head and chest black, back rich hazelnut brown, tail golden-orange. Undertail very black. Flanks scaled black-and-white. Found in most patches of tall grass up to 1200 meters of elevation. Other munias occur in the same areas, but Bismarck’s bold color patterns make for simple identification. Most common call is a chorus of soft “peep” and “see” notes, but overall relatively quiet.

Rare and endangered bird found at high elevations in the western Andes of northern and central Peru. Note the black mask and the reddish-orange eyebrows, throat, and breast. Similar to Rufous-browed Hemispingus of the eastern Andes, but eyebrows are shorter and connect over the bill. Young birds mostly lack the mask and eyebrow and are heavily streaked below. Inhabits scrub and stunted woodland.

Large shorebird with an enormous chunky beak, black-and-white-marked face, white stripes on the shoulder, and long and sturdy legs. Unlikely to be encountered anywhere except coastal areas, particularly beaches, reefs, and estuaries; very unusual even a few hundred meters inland from these habitats. Heavy human activity on beaches in certain areas has confined them to small offshore islands. Often calls at night, giving high-pitched piping and whistling notes.