Bolivian Tyrannulet

Zimmerius bolivianus

Small, pale olive-gray flycatcher. Found across a wide elevational range from montane forest all the way up to elfin forest and scrub around the treeline. Perches horizontally, holding its head up; has a pale eye and lacks wingbars. Very pale belly helps distinguish it from the similar Red-billed Tyrannulet, which has a yellow belly and which overlaps with Bolivian at the lower part of Bolivian’s elevational range. Bolivian’s call is a single, descending whistle.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Zimmerius bolivianus
Authority
(d'Orbigny, 1840)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Tyrannidae
Genus
Zimmerius

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Louisiana Waterthrush

Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia motacilla

Brown-and-white denizen of bubbling streams and brooks. Look for white underparts with dark streaks, light buffy wash on the rear flanks, and bold white eyebrow. Stays on or near the ground, constantly bobbing its rear end up and down. Males sometime perch up high to sing. A very early migrant: arrives on the breeding grounds in eastern North America before most other warblers have even dreamed of starting migration, and arrives back on the wintering grounds as early as July or August. During the breeding season, favors fast-moving streams with lots of rocks to hop on. In the northern parts of its range, often in steep hemlock-lined ravines. Winters primarily in Middle America and the Caribbean, where it’s slightly less picky about habitat, and can be found around slower-moving water. Very similar to Northern Waterthrush, but whiter base color below, brighter pink legs, and broader white eyebrow. Also look for clean white throat (usually streaked on Northern). Best distinguished by song: several piercing clear whistles followed by a complex jumble of notes. Call note very similar to Northern: a loud, metallic chip.

Black-headed Saltator

Black-headed Saltator

Saltator atriceps

Fairly common in humid tropical lowlands. Favors forest edge, plantations, adjacent semi-open areas with trees and hedges. Usually in noisy small groups moving at mid-upper levels. Black head and bib surrounds white throat patch (throat patch buffy in Los Tuxtlas region of southern Veracruz), upperparts bright golden green. Larger and noisier than the rather similar Buff-throated Saltator, which has a less contrasting black head.

White-tailed Tropicbird

White-tailed Tropicbird

Phaethon lepturus

A medium-sized white seabird with black marks on the wings and a yellow beak. The long white tail streamers are visible from a great distance. Nests on coastal and inland cliffs on the main islands. Often seen flying over canyons and along cliffs. At sea usually flies high above the water. Calls are loud clucks and squawks. Smaller and more graceful in flight than Red-tailed Tropicbird.

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