Rio Madeira Stipplethroat

Medium-sized antpitta restricted to high elevation cloud forest in the western Andes of Colombia. It is dark chestnut brown all over, with long legs and a short tail. Typically stays on the ground in the dark forest understory where it is hard to see, but sometimes comes up a bit higher, especially when singing. Gives a curt “pit-brrr” as well as a descending trill lasting about three seconds. This is one of several new antpitta species which were previously considered to be forms of what used to be called Rufous Antpitta.

A dull, short-tailed brownish forest-floor skulker, cold above and warmer below. Has a very thin beak, and long legs and big feet that it lifts in a “goosestep” fashion. This taxonomic enigma is now considered an aberrant dwarf forest wagtail, although it looks more like a terrestrial warbler. Endemic to São Tomé, where it is scarce in interior forests up to 1540 meters of elevation, preferring margins of small rivers, often with logs and debris. Found singly or in pairs. Calls include a thin, high-pitched “seeeep” whistle. 

Large, beautiful swallow with a long, forked tail. Note the rufous cap, cinnamon rump, and pale buffy underparts with fine streaking. Usually found in grassland and wetland, though can be seen in other habitats, especially when migrating. Often in flocks, sometimes mixed with other swallow species. Similar to Lesser Striped Swallow, but larger, with buffy underparts with finer streaks, and with less orange on the face.