A small ground-hugging bird found in areas with dense cover, usually near moving water. Unlike most shortwings, male and female are not significantly different; both sexes are brown or gray overall, with a white eyebrow and throat. Furtive and quite difficult to see; its tinkling melodic song, which starts with 1-2 slow notes and quickly accelerates into a rushed-sounding loud musical jumble, may give away its position in the undergrowth.
Exotic species flags differentiate locally introduced species from native species.
Naturalized: Exotic population is self-sustaining, breeding in the wild, persisting for many years, and not maintained through ongoing releases (including vagrants from Naturalized populations). These count in official eBird totals and, where applicable, have been accepted by regional bird records committee(s).
Provisional: Either: 1) member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2) rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible. When applicable, eBird generally defers to bird records committees for records formally considered to be of "uncertain provenance". Provisional species count in official eBird totals.
Escapee: Exotic species known or suspected to be escaped or released, including those that have bred but don't yet fulfill the criteria for Provisional. Escapee exotics do not count in official eBird totals.