White-bearded Flycatcher

Phelpsia inornata

Fluffy and chubby, a short-billed version of a kiskadee. Black crown and mask, puffy white throat, and broad white eyebrow that connects on the back of head. Very short bill. Olive-brown upperparts and bright yellow underparts. Sexes similar. Common and territorial, found in pairs or family groups in open forest, forest edges and gallery forest in lowlands. Easy to find and identify by voice, a loud “PU-terr-r, PU-terr-r” repeatedly, given in duet or chorus. Similar to Social Flycatcher and Rusty-margined Flycatcher but with puffier appearance, shorter bill, no reddish color in wings, black crown, and white head stripes touching at nape. Found only in Colombia and Venezuela.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Phelpsia inornata
Authority
(Lawrence, 1869)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Thamnophilidae
Genus
Phelpsia

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

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Striking, critically endangered bird found only at extremely high elevations in the Andes of central Peru. One of the most beautiful members of the ovenbird family, with immaculate white underparts and wing patches contrasting with its deep chestnut upperparts and gray crown. Found only in and around boggy areas with strange cushion-like vegetation, a habitat severely threatened by peat harvesting, grazing, mining, and other human activities. Gives metallic rasps and rattling trills, often while perched up on a rock.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Setophaga caerulescens

Striking warbler with vastly different male and female plumages. Males are unique deep blue above with black face and sides and white belly. Females are plain brownish-olive with dingy buffy underparts and subtle face pattern. Always look for small white patch on the wing, lacking only on the dullest immature females. Breeds in the understory of mixed forests, favoring hills with dense vegetation. Found in nearly any wooded or shrubby habitat during migration. Winters primarily in the Caribbean. Listen for lazy buzzy song, usually a series of notes with a final long buzz.

White-bellied Woodstar

White-bellied Woodstar

Chaetocercus mulsant

Woodstars are tiny hummingbirds that fly like large bumblebees. White-bellied is an Andean species found from Colombia to Bolivia. Males are mostly emerald green above with a bright white chest and belly, dark green sides, a glittering purple throat, and a forked tail. Their wings make a distinctive metallic whirring in flight. Females have a white throat, white eyeline, and rich buffy flanks. Both sexes have very prominent white patches on the sides of the lower back. Females in particular can be difficult to distinguish from other woodstars; look for their brighter and better-defined white belly patch and larger white patches on the sides of the lower back. Look for this species in a variety of wooded habitats, scrub, and gardens in the highlands from from 1,100-3,500m. Visits feeders.

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