White-fronted Scops-Owl

A small loquacious inhabitant of scrubland, thickets, and brushy forest edges where it typically feeds within dense cover. The similar White-eyed Vireo can be distinguished by its smaller bill, greener back, and bright yellow sides; furthermore, adults have white, not dusky, eyes. The Cuban Vireo lacks the Thick-billed Vireo’s bold wingbars. The song is a scratchy jumbled “chick, didderwid-weee-zhee, chip” or variations thereof. Calls include a “zhip” given singly or in short bursts, a drawn-out harsh “zzhhe,” and a variety of chattering sounds.

Adult has yellow-green head and breast; both sexes have brown wings, yellow bellies, whitish vents, narrow white wingbars, and white eyering. Male is brighter in plumage, with small black patch between eye and bill. Immature male brownish overall, with a yellowish throat. Typically found in foothill forests, sometimes in scrubby meadows, fields, and parks on migration.

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.”