Black-faced Brushfinch
Atlapetes melanolaemus
Long-tailed, sparrow-like bird found in humid habitats along the Andes. Has a dark gray face and upperparts, with dusky yellowish underparts and a rusty red crown. Told apart from other brushfinches in range by its combination of yellow belly and red crown; more brightly colored than the similar Olive Finch, which has an olive-yellow back. Forages near the ground in montane forest and scrub within a wide elevational range. Listen for its simple whistled song and high, thin call notes.
Identification
Long-tailed, sparrow-like bird found in humid habitats along the Andes. Has a dark gray face and upperparts, with dusky yellowish underparts and a rusty red crown. Told apart from other brushfinches in range by its combination of yellow belly and red crown; more brightly colored than the similar Olive Finch, which has an olive-yellow back. Forages near the ground in montane forest and scrub within a wide elevational range. Listen for its simple whistled song and high, thin call notes.
Taxonomy
Genus: Atlapetes; Family: Passerellidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Atlapetes melanolaemus
- Authority
- (Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1879)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Passerellidae
- Genus
- Atlapetes
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Black-and-gold Cotinga
Lipaugus ater
A large cotinga found in the subcanopy of montane forests from 1,200–2,050 m. Males are spectacular—all black with a yellow patch on the wings. Females are uniformly olive-green. Both sexes have a short orange bill and small red eyes. The song is a long, sharp, and high-pitched whistle with multiples males calling alternatively to give a continuous song phrase.

Brujo Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus nanus
Small, gorgeous flycatcher, endemic to the Galapagos Islands, where now rare and local. Unmistakable in range. Adult males have brilliant red underparts and crown with dark brown upperparts and mask behind eye. Females are brown above with a whitish throat and lemon-yellow underparts. Found in open forest and forest edge. Feeds on insects. Once considered conspecific with Vermilion Flycatcher.

Masatierra Petrel
Pterodroma defilippiana
Small but rather stocky and stout-billed petrel of subtropical eastern Pacific and Humboldt Current; not seen from mainland. One of several similar species, Masatierra is best identified by gray head and collar at sides of neck, rather stout bill, and plain grayish tail without a black tip. Much smaller than Juan Fernandez Petrel with quick wheeling flight unlike more easy and less hurried-looking flight of Juan. Also compare with Stejneger’s and Cook’s Petrels.
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