Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird

A small uncrested owl with a round head and a short tail. It is grayish-brown overall with white spots above while its underparts are white with brown bars. Note the distinctive white eyebrows and neck-band. Often active at dawn and dusk when it utters a loud “chirurr-chirurr-chirurr” laugh in addition to a variety of high-pitched squeals and whistles. Inhabits all kinds of open habitats but avoids dense forest and wetter regions.

Parrot of lowland rainforest; usually looks dark and long-tailed at a distance. At close range, easily told by white crown and diagnostic red-and-blue “fan,” which is usually held flat against the neck but may be extended when birds are excited. Distinctive flapping-and-gliding flight style is unique among Amazonian parrots. Often observed foraging in small groups or perched on bare branches along edges of clearings and along rivers. Most common call a stuttering, grating screech, somewhat similar to Black-headed and White-bellied parrots.

Large thrush, adult rich brown marbled with dark marks above, pale with black scaly marks below. Larger Bassian Thrush has smaller-appearing bill, is more contrastingly marked above. In flight, Russet-tailed shows white in tail corners, absent in Bassian. The smaller wingbar has more prominent pale tips in adult Russet-tailed than Bassian. Inhabits wet forests, where it forages in leaf litter. Song a distinctive, thin “whee-doo,” falling in pitch, very unlike Bassian.