Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant

Agriornis montanus

Widespread in the Andes and locally at lower elevations. Favors open and semiopen habitats from rocky and scrubby slopes to bogs and lakeshores; often around villages and ski lodges, where it nests inside buildings. Often seen on prominent perches; can be confiding, but also flies long distances. Identified in most of range by size and extensively white tail. Told from similar but much rarer and slightly bulkier White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant by slender, all-dark bill (pale below on young Black-billed), and pale eyes (darker on young).

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Agriornis montanus
Authority
(d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Tyrannidae
Genus
Agriornis

Range and habitat

Migration
Complete migrants

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Plaintive Cuckoo

Plaintive Cuckoo

Cacomantis merulinus

A small and slender cuckoo, far more often heard than seen; the male's accelerating song, which decreases in volume as it progresses, is composed of a few whistled long notes followed by shorter, breathy notes. Adult male and typical (non-hepatic) female show orange belly, gray head, and brown back and tail. Hepatic, or rufous-morph, individuals are rusty brown above and white below, with black barring all over the body. Inhabits open woodlands, edges, and agricultural areas.

Square-tailed Kite

Square-tailed Kite

Lophoictinia isura

Uncommon, inconspicuous raptor with a fairly small bill. Adult has a pale head and reddish underparts with black streaks on neck. Juvenile has a more reddish head with less streaking. In flight, tail has obvious square corners with a dark band at the base. Sails over forest woodland habitats just above the tree canopy, typically with little wing movement. Occurs singly or in pairs. At a distance, and particularly when heavily worn, take care to identify juvenile birds from Black Kite, which has more uniformly patterned plumage.

Black-faced Hawk

Black-faced Hawk

Leucopternis melanops

Smallish chunky hawk. Identifiable by size, shape, and prominent black mask contrasting with orange cere. Generally rare. Inhabits wet forests where it hunts from the mid-level to the ground; often perches well below canopy level. Takes relatively small prey, chiefly frogs and snakes. Superficially similar to White Hawk but much smaller with orange (not blue-gray) cere; unlike White Hawk, Black-faced tends not to soar for long periods and is less frequently seen than White Hawk.

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