Plain-capped Ground-Tyrant

Muscisaxicola alpinus

Dingy, terrestrial flycatcher found only at very high elevations in the Andes. It has brown upperparts, white underparts, and a white eyebrow. Crown may show a brown tinge, but never bright chestnut like on some other ground-tyrants. Inhabits open areas away from forest. Stands vertically on the ground or a low perch, frequently flicking wings and tail, before suddenly darting after insects and other small prey.

Identification

Dingy, terrestrial flycatcher found only at very high elevations in the Andes. It has brown upperparts, white underparts, and a white eyebrow. Crown may show a brown tinge, but never bright chestnut like on some other ground-tyrants. Inhabits open areas away from forest. Stands vertically on the ground or a low perch, frequently flicking wings and tail, before suddenly darting after insects and other small prey.

Taxonomy

Genus: Muscisaxicola; Family: Tyrannidae; Order: Passeriformes.

Scientific name
Muscisaxicola alpinus
Authority
(Jardine, 1849)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Tyrannidae
Genus
Muscisaxicola

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Behavior

Migration pattern: Resident species.

Conservation

Population trend: stable.

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Stephan's Dove

Stephan's Dove

Chalcophaps stephani

A small rufous dove with conspicuous emerald-green wings, an orange bill, and a pale forehead that is white in males and gray in females. Juveniles have duller bare parts, some barring, and reduced iridescence. Typically seen singly, foraging on the forest floor or perched low in the understory. Pale patch is restricted to forehead, and this, in combination with brown back and brown tail, distinguishes this species from Asian and Pacific Emerald Doves. Song is a soft “hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo,” gradually rising and accelerating.

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

Fairly small gull, common and widespread throughout most of North America. Breeding adults are white-headed with a bold black ring around the bill; nonbreeding adults have smudgy brown markings on the head. Note pale eye and yellow legs. Immatures are mottled brownish overall; note pink bill with black tip. Found along lakes, rivers, ponds, and beaches. More common inland than most other gull species, and quite fond of parking lots and urban areas. Often in flocks. Most similar to Short-billed Gull, but larger and larger-billed. Immatures of the two species are especially difficult to differentiate, but Ring-billed is usually more coarsely mottled.

Jamaican Pewee

Jamaican Pewee

Contopus pallidus

A small, plain woodland species often found flycatching from exposed perches at middle levels in the forest; often flicks tail once upon landing. Note that this species has relatively inconspicuous wingbars and no eyering. The similar Eastern Wood-Pewee has distinctly longer primaries (assessed by looking at how far the primaries extend beyond tertials), whitish wingbars, and rarely flicks its tail upon landing. The Greater Antillean Elaenia has bold white wingbars and an entirely dark bill unlike the Jamaican Pewee. Vocalizations include plaintive “wee-wee,” with the second note louder and both notes upslurred, a similarly plaintive ‘uh-weee-oo” with the middle portion upslurred, and a slightly rough, whistled “weeah.”

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