Guanay Cormorant

Fairly common but local and easily overlooked in the Andes, mainly in canyons and on rocky slopes with fairly dense bushes and scrub. Usually rather skulking; keeps low in bushes and creeps in vegetation, but often sings from atop a bush. Plumage rather plain but relatively dark brownish above with chestnut wings and a dark-centered chestnut tail. Compare with Cordilleran Canastero, of more open habitats; also note differences in song and calls.

Fairly common in the understory of lowland tropical forest and woodland; also ranges into adjacent secondary growth. Usually in small groups, mainly comprising female-plumaged birds. Associates readily with similar Red-crowned Ant-tanager when attending army ant swarms. These two species are best told by voice: low rasping calls in Red-throated, high squeaky calls in Red-crowned (remember: the throat is lower than the crown). Male Red-throated has a small dark mask between the eye and the bill, and female has a contrasting buff throat.

A large brightly colored barbet of forests and forest edges. Distinctive with its bright yellow bill, dark head, back, and tail, and yellow belly. There is regional variation within the species, especially prominent on the throat, which can be dark with small pale speckles or heavily streaked with whitish. Found in rainforest and lower montane forest, usually in the understory, and especially in treefall gaps, and along forest edges. Voice consists of a low “oop” or “op-oop” given in slow succession, sometimes for several minutes.