Flores Shortwing

Small and restless tanager found in the canopy of forest borders and lighter woodlands where it often accompanies mixed-species flocks. Males have a cinnamon head with a yellow side to the neck, and an orange throat and rump. Males are olive-green above and on the tail and off-white below. Females are quite uniformly olive-green with gray flanks and are identical to female Guira Tanagers.

Highly migratory flycatcher; it nests from about September through March along the east slope of the Andes in Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, then disperses as far as northern South America. It is mostly gray, with a pale belly, faint wingbars, and a broken eyering. Bill is stubby and yellow at the base. Male has a white crown patch that is usually hidden; females and immatures are tinged olive. Inhabits humid forest, and very inconspicuous when not singing. Typical song is an accelerating, toneless rasp, and it remains almost totally silent outside of its breeding range.

While perched, appears to be an unassuming nightjar: rather small, short-tailed, and largely gray with dark brown spots. In flight, males are spectacular, with unique flight feathers forming the “sickle” wing shape. Females lack these modified wing feathers. Usually found close to water, around gallery forest; in some areas also in grassland and marshes. The call is a repetition of very subtle “chip” notes.