Ultramarine Kingfisher

A typical-looking spinetail with a very restricted range in central Colombia. Gray-brown overall with a rusty or rufous crown and wings, and a long, spiky grayish tail. Throat looks dark, not silvery. Fairly common in forests, edges, and thickets from around 2,000 to 3,200 m. Skulking and fairly difficult to see. Compare with Azara’s Spinetail, which has a rufous tail. Listen for long descending chatters and chip calls.

Endangered songbird restricted to the western slopes of the northern part of Colombia’s eastern Andes. Note the white spectacles, striped face, and barred wings and tail. Very similar to the widespread Rufous-and-white Wren, but duller brown, lacking rich chestnut tones in the plumage, and its song tends to be faster and higher in pitch. Range is also helpful for ID, since the two species have limited, if any, overlap. Skulks in the understory of dry to semi-humid forest as well as in shady coffee and cacao plantations.

A plump, small, long-legged nondescript brown songbird with paler underparts that vary from whitish to buffy in different parts of the range. Found singly or in pairs, on or near the ground, in understory of lowland and foothill forest and forest edges. Restricted to Sulawesi and the Togian and Butung islands, where it is the only babbler present. Long legs, plain overall appearance, and ground-loving habits make it readily identified within its small range. A vocal species with bold calls, including a musical “dewiyou-dee-dee” and repetitive cries of “KEER-KEER-KEER…”.