Spot-winged Antbird

Attractive but rather local little bird of scrubby habitats and dense hedgerows in lowland desert. Mostly stays well hidden, hopping low to high in bushes and trees, tail sometimes held cocked. Sings from atop a bush or other prominent low perch. Readily identified by long spiky crest with a flashy white median patch. Male has solidly black face and throat while female has a whitish face and throat with black streaks. Immature has a plainer face with a whitish throat and shorter crest, but still has a big white flash in crest.

Tiny gray bird with a short, stubby tail. Pale gray forehead and eyebrow form its namesake crown-like pattern, and distinguish the species from similar tapaculos; however, this gray pattern can be reduced and hard to see in females. Found in dense mossy undergrowth in elfin forest near the treeline. Extremely shy and heard far more often than seen; listen for its song, a loud, accelerating series of nasal complaining notes.

This large swallow has rusty-red underparts, a pale buff throat, and a white leading edge to the underwing that is obvious only in flight. It is mostly resident, although it is also a wet season migrant to the north of its range. Pairs prefer wooded savanna, nesting in banks, termite mounds, and often holes in trees, particularly baobabs. The Mosque Swallow may be confused with the juvenile Rufous-chested Swallow, but it lacks the latter species’ dark “ear-flaps” and buffy forward part of the underwing.