Rufous-browed Conebill

Scarce and local throughout its range, and rarely encountered. Found in varied scrubby montane habitats, especially Polylepis groves. Feeds in shrubs and on the ground, often in pairs and small groups; associates readily with other siskins. Both sexes resemble the much commoner and more widespread Hooded Siskin (absent in central Chile), but Thick-billed Siskin is stockier with a relatively large, deep bill. Varied songs and calls overall rather similar to other siskins.

This flightless South American relative of the ostriches stands about 5 feet tall with a body about the size of a sheep; no similar species in its range. Rheas roam widely on open Patagonian steppe and also occur locally in open habitats of the Andes, mainly at very high elevations. Can be confiding where used to people, but in other areas wary, running strongly and quickly. Rheas occur singly or in groups, and males take care of the young. Adults have bold pale spots on the body, first-year birds are plainer overall.

A tiny, short-billed sunbird with a metallic-green back and a yellow belly. The male has a green throat and a narrow purplish breast band; the female is duller, with a yellow throat and no breast band. Pairs frequent forest edge, woodland, and savanna, where they join mixed-species flocks to glean leaves and hover to catch insect prey. But they will also feed on fruit and nectar, often by piercing the base of a flower and sucking out nectar without pollinating. The “yellow-bellied” races of Variable Sunbird differ from Collared Sunbird by being larger, with a longer bill and broader purple-blue breast band.