Grassland Sparrow

A huge ground-dwelling hornbill. Males have a mix of blue and red bare facial skin, while females have entirely blue facial skin. In flight, a large white patch is revealed in the wings. Found in savanna, grassland, and agricultural habitats, usually in pairs or small groups, walking on the ground. Breeds and roosts in trees. Similar to Southern Ground-Hornbill, but there is little overlap in range, and Abyssinian is easily separated by the blue facial skin. The call is a series of deep “boop” notes. 

A huge, rare eagle, found in large swaths of mature lowland and foothill forests through much of Central and South America. Always rare and infrequently seen; any day with a Crested Eagle deserves a gold star. Light morph adults are dark gray above and whitish below with a gray head and breast and barred belly. Dark morph is very rare and is dark gray overall with white barring on belly. The similar Harpy Eagle (which does not have a dark morph) has a more contrasting black chest and lacks barring on the belly. Juvenile Crested Eagle is mostly white with darker wings; separated from Harpy Eagle by slightly smaller size and slimmer shape. Most often seen perched in the canopy of mature lowland forest, but occasionally soars.

Intricately-patterned partridge of tropical lowland rainforest. Uncommon and declining throughout its range. Brown with buff scaling, rusty bib, stippled black-and-white head pattern, and a pale throat. Forages in small flocks on the forest floor. Found at lower altitudes than other partridges in range and distinguished by pale ear patch and lack of rufous on the head. Song, often given as a duet, consists of loud, tremulous whistles followed by a series of up and down notes “weep! churrrrr…!”.