Lesser Hornero

Furnarius minor

The smallest hornero. Plumage rusty overall with a white eyebrow, a gray crown,  and a white throat. Note the gray legs. Found in scrub on river islands and occasionally in human-modified habitats near major rivers. Forages walking on the ground, especially at the water’s edge. The song is a series of fast staccato “kee” notes, usually given in duet. Other horneros with overlapping distributions have longer and louder songs.

Identification

The smallest hornero. Plumage rusty overall with a white eyebrow, a gray crown,  and a white throat. Note the gray legs. Found in scrub on river islands and occasionally in human-modified habitats near major rivers. Forages walking on the ground, especially at the water’s edge. The song is a series of fast staccato “kee” notes, usually given in duet. Other horneros with overlapping distributions have longer and louder songs.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Furnarius minor
Authority
Pelzeln, 1858
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Furnariidae
Genus
Furnarius

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Tessmann's Flycatcher

Tessmann's Flycatcher

Fraseria tessmanni

A plain, strong-billed rainforest flycatcher that is dark gray and black on the upperparts and pale below. Sometimes shows a vague darker gray band across the breast. Scarce and local in rainforest clearings, secondary forest, overgrown plantations, and forest edge, mostly at the middle levels. Most similar to Dusky-blue Flycatcher, but has much paler underparts. Also similar to Cassin’s Flycatcher, but has paler underparts, and not strongly associated with water. Similar in coloration to Little Gray Flycatcher, but much larger and paler below. The song is pretty and thrush-like: a mixture of whistles and trills given at a conversational rhythm. 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Breeding adult males are striking black and white with bright red triangle on breast. Nonbreeding males, females, and immatures are streaky below with a bold head pattern. Always look for the very thick, pale pinkish bill. Fairly common and widespread in eastern North America, especially in deciduous forests. Winters to northern South America. Visits feeders. Listen for sweet robinlike song and squeaky call. Females are sometimes confused with Purple Finch but note much larger overall size, large pinkish bill, and bolder white markings on wings. Also compare females and immature males with extremely similar Black-headed Grosbeak, which is usually identifiable by range. Rose-breasted usually has more extensive, coarser streaking on underparts and usually lacks orange tones.

Gray-headed Honeyeater

Gray-headed Honeyeater

Ptilotula keartlandi

Medium-sized honeyeater found in woodlands and rocky areas across northern inland Australia. Olive brown above, yellow with diffuse gray streaking below, with gray crown and dark gray cheek patch bordered in yellow, and entirely black bill during breeding season. Base of lower mandible (and adjacent gape) yellow in nonbreeding season. Calls include a variety of chirruping rolling whistles, a loud single squawk, and short yelps.

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