Verreaux's Coua

A huge black hornbill with a prominent knob on the bill, conspicuous red “gills” on the sides of the beak, a turquoise-blue throat pouch, and a white tail. Males have a red casque and rufous neck, females a yellow knob and black neck. Juveniles resemble male, but with an entirely yellow casqueless bill. Found in pairs or groups in canopy of forested and wooded areas of lowlands and hills. Larger and more colorful than Sulawesi Hornbill. Gives powerful, short “krok” notes and a more drawn-out “oooo-aa-ooo-aaa.”

A multicolored chunky dove of dense, wet forests with thick leaf-litter. It is most often found on the ground, sometimes in association with Blue-headed or Ruddy Quail-Doves. Walks with an unusual posture with chest down, head forward, and tail up. Its unstriped head, pale gray forehead, and largely iridescent body eliminate other species within range. Song is upslurred repeated “cooo-oop,” sometimes preceded by “oo-oo-oo-oo-oo.”

Medium to large woodcreeper of humid evergreen and pine-evergreen forest in highlands and foothills. Feeds at all levels on trunks and larger branches, often at bromeliads. Straightish and rather stout bill is dark above and pale below. Note the pale buff spectacles and distinct pale spotting and scalloping on head, breast, and back (populations south of western Honduras lack spotting on back.)