Spectacled Bristle-Tyrant

A very common inhabitant of humid forests. Small chunky manakin with elongated central tail feathers. Males are unmistakable with their blue bodies, black wings and head, and red crown. Females are uniformly green with a dark eye and pale legs and bill. Very noisy at the display lek where males can be heard from a long way off delivering soft “kua-a-a-a” notes.

A drab, long-tailed brownish greenbul. The upperparts are brown and the underparts paler olive-gray. A generally scarce and uncommon species. Not found in true lowland rainforest, preferring gallery forest and thickets, and drier middle-elevation forest. Somewhat similar to Slender-billed Greenbul, but has more olive-green rather than gray underparts that contrast less with the back. Similar to White-throated Greenbul, but duller, with much less contrast on the throat. The vocalizations include “wiik” and “dek” notes and a series of whiny whistles. 

Common in Caribbean and South America. Found in semiopen and open grassy areas, often associated with livestock. Feeds mainly on the ground, but perches readily in bushes and trees. Male is glossy blue-black overall (often looks simply black). Female is plain grayish-brown overall. Bill shape is the key feature: blackish bill is more slender and pointed than bills of Brown-headed and Bronzed cowbirds. Also note similar but larger Melodious Blackbird, which has longer bill and often flicks its tail.