Pale-legged Warbler

Small sleek tanager with distinctive color pattern: pale sandy underparts with peachy blush on breast, black mask, powdery-blue crown, and darker blue back and wings. Sexes alike. Uncommon in second growth, edges, and gardens, where it is most often seen singly or in pairs. Occasionally follows mixed-species flocks. Found from foothills to upper subtropical zone in Andes, sometimes straying even higher. Populations in southeastern South America occur at lower elevations.

Widespread and fairly common in northern South America. This medium-sized woodcreeper is found in open wooded habitats, scrub, and riparian forest. The well-named woodcreeper has a very straight bill that can even look slightly upturned unlike most other woodcreepers. Also note the bill’s pale color. Otherwise, mostly dark brown with fine streaking on the head and breast, but note the unstreaked back. Very similar to Zimmer’s Woodcreeper, but listen for Straight-billed’s slightly slower song that typically goes up in pitch at the end. Striped Woodcreeper has more streaking on the back and a slightly decurved bill. Usually seen singly or in pairs working up tree trunks and branches, usually at lower to middle levels in forest. Sometimes follows mixed-species flocks.

Typical-looking nuthatch with gray upperparts, dingy white underparts, and a black mask. Favors mountainous rocky areas, and is often seen actively feeding on boulders and cliffs, not normally on trees. Builds a unique, huge mud nest that it sticks to cliffs and rocks and uses year-round. Song and call are a loud and bubbling series of descending whistles “Piu-piu-piu-piu…” or “Pi pi pi pu-pu-pu-pu…” Somewhat similar to Eurasian Nuthatch, but larger, longer- and stronger-billed, and uses different habitats. Eastern Rock Nuthatch is also similar, but larger and heavier than the present species, with an even larger bill and thicker black eye stripe.