Acre Tody-Tyrant

An ebony shadow trailing obsidian tresses. Medium-sized drongo with two extravagantly long tail feathers tipped with plumes, the shape of which vary throughout its range. Glossy black overall with red eyes. Juvenile duller and lacks streamers. Can be confused with the larger Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, but Lesser is crestless and oddly flat-headed, with a more square-ended tail. Inhabits mid- to high-altitude tropical forests, where it forages primarily under closed canopies, not venturing out into the open as frequently as Greater Racket-tailed. Joins mixed flocks. Impressive vocal range, giving highly variable songs that include bouncy hoots, ringing whistles, and harsh nasal notes, among others; also mimics other species.

Breeds in Tierra del Fuego and adjacent southern Patagonia; migrates north in winter. Favors open shrub steppe, grassy areas, and gravel roadsides. Often in pairs, walking with waddling gait and pumping its tail like most miners; also forms flocks in migration and winter. Bill is not especially short despite the name. Best identified in flight by rather dull wings (no bright rusty patches) and a contrasting whitish rump patch; also note long wingtips on perched birds (wingtips are shorter on the very similar Common Miner).

The default red-winged black starling of lowland forests in its range, with a distinctive glossy black body and a noticeably long tail. Females are similar to males but have grayer, less glossy heads. Often seen in the canopy, especially in or near fruiting trees, where it sometimes forages with other starlings. Gives a mixture of grating notes and chucks along with whistled, two-parted flight calls.