Sangihe Hanging-Parrot

A forest-dwelling cuckooshrike in which males and females are strikingly different. Males are all-black with a purple gloss to the underparts. Females have an olive-green back, a gray head, and pale yellow underparts. Found in the canopy of various forest types, including gallery forest, lowland rainforest, and montane forest. Generally uncommon and inconspicuous. The most common vocalization is a downslurred “tsieuw.” The male resembles other black male cuckooshrikes, but is distinguished by its glossy purple underparts, though these can be hard to discern. The female is identified by its plain-green back.

Small antwren found in the canopy of foothill forests of the eastern Andes in central Peru. Note the black cap, striped face, white wingbars, and lack of rufous in the wing. The slight yellowish tinge on the underparts for which the species is named is often hard to see in the field. Female has white spotting in the crown. While several other antwrens in Peru share similar plumage features, none of them occur in the range of this species. Song starts with a couple of peeping notes followed by a fast descending trill.

An aerial feeder that is typically found over highland forests in flocks of up to forty birds; sometimes feeds at lower altitudes, particularly during inclement weather. Its stubby dark-gray body and rapid, shallow wingbeats eliminates all swallows. Short-tailed Swift is similar, but has a gray vent and gray rump, which contrasts more markedly against its dark body than Lesser Antillean Swift. Very rarely found when not flying. Call is a high, sharp twitter.