Lowland Akalat

Possibly the species to which the moniker of “scimitar-babbler” attaches most fittingly, as this inhabitant of high-altitude evergreen forests has a bill shaped like a curved sword. Predominantly orange-brown, with a gray head and jagged white eyebrow. Easily identified, even if seen only in silhouette; no other babbler in its range has such a long, sharply curved bill. Moves through the lower levels of the forest in large, noisy flocks.

A large, black gregarious species of open woodlands, palm savannahs, and human settlements (including agricultural areas and garbage dumps) near woodlands; often found in flocks of up to fifty birds. The similar Palm Crow has a much shorter bill with extensive feathering on top. The Palm Crow also has a flat, harsh “raaah” unlike the Cuban Crow’s “whih waaa” call with the first note inflected upward and the second note downward. Cuban Crows also have a number of shrieking and harsh burbling noises.

Large, cryptically patterned chickenlike bird of puna grassland and bogs in the high Andes. Usually seen in trios or family groups (males take care of the young); fairly common where not hunted, but mostly wary of people. Very heavy bodied and runs strongly; very rarely flies. Striped head and dark rusty belly are diagnostic plumage features. Loud, shrieky, and rollicking choruses carry far in the thin air of the altiplano.