Chestnut-bellied Fantail

Fairly large, plain cisticola. Note the rufous cap, pale underparts, and two bands across the tip of the tail, one pale and one black. Found in a variety of savanna habitats, including miombo. The distinctive song is a high, rising trill, given from a prominent perch. The call is an agitated, repeated “chit.” As with other cisticolas, habitat and vocalizations are important to identification. Fairly similar to Whistling Cisticola, but has a rufous cap.

Small, creeping bird of highland forest canopy. Chestnut cap, wings, and tail contrast with olive-brown back and gray underparts. At close range, note somewhat decurved bill. Found only in humid highland forests of the tepui region (above 800 m), particularly in areas with heavy growth of mosses and epiphytes. Forages by hitching up large branches and tree trunks, and also creeps along limbs, inspecting bromeliads and bark crevices from which it gleans insect prey. Often encountered with mixed-species flocks. Voice is a long series of high tinkling notes, dropping in pitch and accelerating. No similar species occurs in tepui highlands.

This large, flashy hummingbird is a common resident throughout much of the Andes, where it inhabits lush cloud forest and frequently visits feeders. Note the white breast patch and long, straight bill. The white tail markings really stand out when it flares its tail, which it often does when interacting with other hummers around feeders. Male is darker than female, sometimes almost black, which makes his colorful crown patch more evident. Birds found south of central Peru and north of the Colombia-Venezuela border region are now considered to be separate species, Gould’s Inca and Green Inca respectively.