White-collared Jay

Cyanolyca viridicyanus

Handsome small jay of montane Andean forest. Slender and long-tailed, without a crest; overall dark blue with a black face and throat, thin white eyebrow, and white chest arc. Forages at mid-height in mossy forest, often in pairs or small groups. Listen for its repeating whistled call and harsher nasal calls.

Identification

The White-collared jay has a long and slender tail without an crest white overall dark blue coloration. Black covers the face and throat with a thin white eyebrow and chest.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Cyanolyca viridicyanus
Authority
(d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1838)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Corvidae
Genus
Cyanolyca

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Urrao Antpitta

Urrao Antpitta

Grallaria urraoensis

This antpitta has a very small range in the northern part of Colombia’s western Andes. It was described to science in 2010 and is considered highly endangered. Upperparts and hood are dull chestnut brown, and it has a gray breast and belly. Similar to Chestnut-naped Antpitta, but in Urrao the crown is much duller and throat is chestnut (not gray). Inhabits bamboo-laden understory of high elevation cloud forest, and usually very hard to see, though it sometimes visits a feeder within the Dusky Starfrontlet Nature Reserve. Song is three curt whistles; there is a pause after the first note, and the last note is higher.

Swierstra's Spurfowl

Swierstra's Spurfowl

Pternistis swierstrai

Rare and unusual francolin that is endemic to Angola. Note the red bill and legs, mostly white face, black breast band, and black-striped white underparts. Found very locally in montane forest and along forest edge, often in rocky and grassy areas. Shy and elusive. The common vocalization is a series of rough “kurr-kraak” calls that become louder and more emphatic, then fade away. Distinguished from other francolins in its range by the bold white face and black breast band. 

Buffy Hummingbird

Buffy Hummingbird

Leucippus fallax

Medium-sized brown-and-green hummingbird. Upperparts pale green, underparts warm buff; bill medium-sized; has dull white spot behind eyes and boldly white tipped, rounded tail. Locally fairly common; territorial. Restricted to desert scrub, dry forest edges, and mangroves in northern Venezuela and extreme northeastern Colombia. Ruby Topaz female similar but with rufous tail and shorter bill.

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