Golden-fronted Greenlet

Pachysylvia aurantiifrons

Small, nondescript bird found in scrubby woodland from Panama to Venezuela and Trinidad. Namesake golden forehead is not obvious and usually difficult to see. Look for brownish head, buffy underparts, and greenish upperparts; also note relatively long, pinkish, vireo-like bill. Singles or pairs are usually seen foraging in the middle levels or canopy, sometimes following a mixed-species flock. Listen for short warbled phrases.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Pachysylvia aurantiifrons
Authority
(Lawrence, 1861)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Vireonidae
Genus
Pachysylvia

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Black-capped Siskin

Black-capped Siskin

Spinus atriceps

Scarce and local small finch of highlands in Chiapas and Guatemala. Favors pine-oak forests, edges, and adjacent clearings, especially with alders. Usually in small groups, feeding in alders or other fruiting trees; at times low in weedy vegetation. Adult is greenish overall with a black cap and yellow wing edgings. Juvenile is streaky and resembles Pine Siskin, but note the dark cap and pointed pinkish bill.

Blue-lored Antbird

Blue-lored Antbird

Hafferia immaculata

Large, chunky, dark antbird restricted to northern Colombia and western Venezuela. Male entirely black with namesake blue lores and triangular patch of paler bluish skin behind eye. Female similar but warm dark brown instead of black. Long broad tail often strongly flicked downward and raised back up slowly. Usually seen in pairs, which forage close to the ground within forest. Can be shy and difficult to see. Sometimes follows ant swarms, but frequently seen away from them. Found mainly in the foothills and lower subtropics, up to 1,800 m. Listen for a mourning series of plaintive whistles, “teew, teew, teew, teew.”

Junin Canastero

Junin Canastero

Asthenes virgata

Chunky, streaked brown bird with a long tail that is often held cocked. Warm reddish brown with extensive white streaking through its head, back, and sides. Forages on or near the ground in open, high-elevation habitats, often with tall bunches of grass; occasionally found around the treeline or the edges of Polylepis forests. Compared to the similar Line-fronted Canastero found in more heavily vegetated habitats, Junin Canastero is larger with a streaked back, a thicker bill, and a paler white breast with more diffuse streaking.

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