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
Variable Hawk
Geranoaetus polyosoma
Common raptor in open spaces in the high Andes and southern South America. Large, relatively broad-winged, and short-tailed raptor. As the name suggests, plumage is quite variable. Adults range from clean white to dark gray and rufous below with a gray or rufous back. Always look for the white tail with a black band near the tip. Juveniles are more confusing, usually dark brown above and buffy below with a variable amount of dark streaking below. Juveniles can also be all dark brown (but this morph is rare). Compare with Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, which is larger and broader-winged, with young birds usually darker than most Variable Hawks. Occurs from sea level up to over 4,500 m in the Andes, typically in open agricultural land, desert, or paramo, but also ranging over wooded areas.
Purple-crowned Fairywren
Malurus coronatus
A small bird with a long blue tail that is held cocked. Breeding male has a bright purple crown with black eye line and collar. Female has prominent dark rusty cheek patches. Nonbreeding male has prominent black cheek patches. This species prefers riverside habitat, particularly when it includes Pandanus (screw-palm) and long grassy vegetation.
Gray-throated Chat
Granatellus sallaei
Easily overlooked, warbler-like bird of lowland tropical forest. Hops around, mainly at low levels in tangled understory, often fanning its rather long, white-tipped tail. Male is striking, with red breast, gray head, and white eyebrow, but female-plumaged birds are seen more often and can be puzzling. Note the buffy face and breast with a dark beady eye, mostly grayish upperparts, and distinctive tail.
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