Two-banded Warbler
Myiothlypis bivittata
Small, yellowish bird with a fine black bill and distinctive black stripes on head. Mostly green above and yellow below; has rufous or orange crown bordered by black, but crown color can be difficult to ascertain. Note olive eyebrow becoming yellow in front of eye, and bright pinkish-yellow legs. Inhabits dense understory of foothill forests along the eastern slope of the southern Andes and in the tepui region. Usually occurs in pairs or small family groups that forage actively for insects, often joining mixed-species flocks. Song in tepuis is a series of chips followed by a high-pitched, screeching note. In southern part of range, song is very different: a rich rollicking series of notes that may vaguely recall House Wren and is often given by pairs as a duet. In southern Andes, most similar to Golden-bellied Warbler but has olive (not entirely yellow) eyebrow; also similar to Golden-crowned Warbler but typically occurs at higher elevations and has olive (not whitish) eyebrow.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Myiothlypis bivittata
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Parulidae
- Genus
- Myiothlypis
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Checker-throated Stipplethroat
Epinecrophylla fulviventris
This antwren is tiny, round, and short-tailed. There are no bright colors, just a mix of buffy underparts and grayer-brown upperparts. Look for the male’s distinctive black-and-white spotting on throat. Female lacks this feature, but note her dark wing with buffy spots. Both sexes have a pale eye. Found in pairs or small flocks, usually in the lower levels of forests. Often joins larger mixed-species flocks.
European Robin
Erithacus rubecula
Distinctive and charismatic little bird with a bright orangey face and breast (easily hidden when facing away). Juvenile is very different, with bold pale buffy spotting on the back and breast. Found in a wide range of wooded habitats, including forests, gardens, hedges in farmland, and heathland, usually fairly near cover. Hops perkily on the ground, pausing to look around, often flicking its wings and cocking its tail. Also feeds by dropping to the ground from low perches, snatching up prey and flying back up to a shady perch. High-pitched song is highly variable, and incorporates a range of warbles and trills. Subsong is a rambling warbling series often incorporating odd fizzing and twittering notes. Calls include a dry “tic”, often given in bursts, as well as a thin, high-pitched, descending alarm call.
Antarctic Petrel
Thalassoica antarctica
Striking brown-and-white petrel of Antarctica and its adjacent seas and islands. Essentially unmistakable, but worth comparing with Cape Petrel if seen at great distance. Breeds on rocky slopes and cliff faces, both coastal and inland; one of very few flying birds likely to be seen any distance inland in Antarctica. When not breeding, disperses north, sometimes getting as far as the Falklands. Often seen in huge numbers around foraging cetaceans or fishing vessels.
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