Tepui Redstart
Myioborus castaneocapilla
Small, active bird of highland forests. Generally yellow below and grayish above with a chestnut cap and white outer tail feathers. White eyering is more extensive in birds from western part of range, where it forms distinct spectacles. Found only in forests of the tepui highlands (above 1000 m), where typically encountered singly or in pairs. Forages actively, gleaning insects from leaves and bark or making acrobatic sallies to catch them mid-air. Usually keeps tail partially spread, revealing white outer feathers. Song is a rapid, chippering trill, recalling Tropical Parula but without strongly accented notes, and dropping slightly in pitch. Told from Slate-throated Redstart by entirely yellow underparts (including throat) and more prominent chestnut crown.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Myioborus castaneocapilla
- Authority
- (Cabanis, 1849)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Parulidae
- Genus
- Myioborus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Gould's Toucanet
Selenidera gouldii
Beautiful small, multicolored toucan. Males have a black crown and underparts; in females, the black is replaced by chestnut. Note the black and orange patches on the bill. Inhabits lowland humid forest, seasonally flooded forest, gallery forest, and old second growth. Forages from middle levels to the canopy, usually in fruiting trees. Call is a deep and somewhat slow series of “ggrawnk” to “ggrraaw” notes, easily overlooked.
Red-faced Pytilia
Pytilia hypogrammica
An unusual and pretty member of the waxbill family. Shows fine buff barring below, mostly yellow wings, and red on the rump and tail. Males have a red face and females an entirely gray head. Found in moist broadleaf woodland, overgrown cultivation, and thickets, often along rivers. Generally uncommon and inconspicuous, seen singly or in pairs. Sometimes joins flocks with other birds. Similar to Green-winged and Red-winged Pytilias, but separated by the yellow wing. The call is a simple “teew” note.
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