Desert Owl

A variable, gray and white finch-like bird of the Andes. Face is solid black in the northern part of its range but is marked with white blotches in southwestern Ecuador and northern Peru. Crown is chestnut except for the very localized “Paynter’s” group, which has a pale crown and is restricted to far southeastern Ecuador and adjacent areas of Peru. Conspicuous white wing patches help distinguish it from Bay-crowned Brushfinch. Inhabits dense vegetation, such as montane scrub and roadside tangles.

Handsome spinetail with a highly restricted range, known only from arid Andean valleys southeast of the city of Cajamarca in northern Peru. It has a white throat and eyebrow, a streaky breast, and chestnut wings and tail. Plumage is similar to Necklaced Spinetail, but Great is much larger, and the two species do not overlap. Inhabits thorny scrub and cacti. Vocalizations include fast rattles and shrill, doubled chirps.

Distinctive and charismatic little bird with a bright orangey face and breast (easily hidden when facing away). Juvenile is very different, with bold pale buffy spotting on the back and breast. Found in a wide range of wooded habitats, including forests, gardens, hedges in farmland, and heathland, usually fairly near cover. Hops perkily on the ground, pausing to look around, often flicking its wings and cocking its tail. Also feeds by dropping to the ground from low perches, snatching up prey and flying back up to a shady perch. High-pitched song is highly variable, and incorporates a range of warbles and trills. Subsong is a rambling warbling series often incorporating odd fizzing and twittering notes. Calls include a dry “tic”, often given in bursts, as well as a thin, high-pitched, descending alarm call.