Yellow-eared Spiderhunter

Slaty gray laughingthrush with a rusty-red crown and bright white arcs around the eyes. Also note orangish vent and bright white wing panel. A species of foothill and montane forest and forest edge. Often a component of mixed flocks, within which it typically moves in the lower and middle levels of forest. Gives a repetitive whooping “nyehnyehnyehnyeh” as flocks move through the forest; also gives various churring and cackling calls.

Large, long-billed hummingbird restricted to the eastern Andes of Colombia, where it inhabits high elevation cloud forest. Both sexes are clad in iridescent green and gold plumage. Similar to Blue-throated Starfrontlet; male is distinguished by his golden (not purple) belly; female lacks violet on flanks and has a bronzy (not bluish) rump. Prefers long, tubular flowers where often seen feeding nearly vertically, and occasionally visits feeders. Birds from the Perijá Mountains and the Venezuelan Andes are now considered to be separate species, Perija Starfrontlet and Merida Starfrontlet respectively.

A beautiful ground-dweller of well-shaded forests. Adult mostly green above, creamy tan below, with vivid red patch in undertail and central belly and multicolored head, with black mask, tan eyebrow, white throat, and rufous-and-black crown. The similar Blue-winged Pitta has vivid blue wings. In flight, note bright green wings with electric blue shoulder and white patch. Four-syllabled song consists of paired, clear whistles, “pee-yu, pee-yu.”