Tocuyo Sparrow

Dark gray tapaculo with a pale eyebrow known only from a few sites in the eastern Andes of southern Peru. While long known to be something different, it was finally described as a new species in 2020. Rump, tail, and lower underparts are brownish and faintly barred, though this is often hard to see in the field. The pale eyebrow is a good feature, but it is very inconspicuous on some birds, and ID is best confirmed by voice. Song is a slow, steady series of inflected chirps that may go on for a minute, and the notes sometimes have a buzzy quality. Inhabits high elevation forest and scrub near and above tree line. Stays low and often hops on the ground.

A tiny drab bird with a sharp bill. Note gray back, whitish underparts, and faintly black-speckled forehead. Generally uncommon in dry savanna and thornscrub, usually found in pairs or small flocks. Similar to Sennar and African Penduline-Tits, but grayer on the back and paler below. Can also be mistaken for Yellow-bellied or Yellow-vented Eremomelas, but has a shorter and thinner bill and no yellow on the underparts. Vocalizations include high-pitched “sit” notes and long trills. 

An easily overlooked petite bird of lowland forests that frequents edges, clearings, and even old farms. A typical small, grayish flycatcher with a white throat and belly, a streaky gray chest, black legs, and a mostly dark bill with a pale base. Similar to other African flycatchers, especially Yellow-legged Flycatcher, but note the black legs and streaky chest. Song is a jumble of high-pitched notes and buzzes, and the flight call is a high-pitched “zee.”