Rusty Mouse-Warbler

An entertaining heron to watch—known for sprinting, jumping, and spinning around in shallow water with its wings held up. Dark morph is more common than white morph. Adults are dark gray with a rusty head and neck. Immatures are paler grayish and rusty overall. In breeding plumage, the pink bill and blue lores can become shockingly bright. White morphs are similar to other egrets, but note behavior, grayish legs, and pink bill base (adults). Found exclusively near the coast, especially on mudflats. Typically uncommon, usually seen singly or in scattered small numbers. Dark morph most easily confused with Little Blue Heron, but Reddish Egret is larger and forages much more actively.

A long-tailed bird of montane forest canopy. Male has much longer tail with iridescent green belly, black chest and small, iridescent blue throat patch. Female is blackish with indistinct barring on the belly. Feeds on fruit and searches for insects on mossy branches and epiphytes. Somewhat similar to Black Sicklebill but Arfak Astrapia lacks the long, curved bill. Call, a relatively low “clup!” that sounds somewhat like banging 2 large stones together.

Uncommon piculet of riverine and flooded forests, found only in a very limited area along the Brazilian/Bolivian border. Usually seen alone or in pairs below the forest canopy. Plumage generally brownish, but note the black top of the head. Male and female are very similar, except for the orange-reddish feathers in the male’s crown. Voice consists of 5–7 short, sharp whistles, dropping at the end: “tzi-tzi-tzí-tzí-tzíu.”