Esmeraldas Antbird

A small, unobtrusive bird of lower slopes in the tepui region. Adult males are mostly black with a yellow (not orange) belly, bright white forehead, and sky blue rump; females and young males are bright green above and dull yellow below, with a bluish wash on the crown. Occurs at lower levels in the forest and feeds on fruit taken in short sallies, like other manakins. This is often the most common manakin in the higher-elevation forests. Most frequent vocalization is a high twittering, rising and falling slightly; very similar to a call of Tiny Tyrant-Manakin. Also gives a soft, single note with a peeping quality; both sounds are easily overlooked. Very similar to White-fronted Manakin of lowlands (and female-plumage birds of the two species are essentially identical), but adult male Orange-bellied has a solid black breast without a yellow spot. Females are told from other female manakins by bright green upperparts and bluish crown.

Forest-falcons are well-named raptors; they are found almost exclusively inside the forest. They are generally slender and long-tailed, with long legs. Slaty-backed is clean-looking, smooth gray above and white below. Juveniles have a scaly pattern on breast. Similar to several other raptors, including Bicolored Hawk; note more extensive yellow skin around eye. As with all forest-falcons, more often heard than seen, and more easily identified by voice. Sings from the canopy, mostly at dawn and dusk. Listen for series of mournful “aww” notes, similar in tone to Collared Forest-Falcon (but Collared typically gives single notes).

Large songbird with long decurved bill. Male almost completely black, with green and blue metallic sheen on belly, throat, and crown. Female brown above, buff below, with a sparse scaly pattern on chest and belly and a pale eyebrow. Inhabits rainforest and nearby drier forest in northern Queensland (i.e., around Cairns). Call a loud explosive hiss, often repeated. Males display from a prominent upright stump or snag, holding wings high above the head, flashing bright yellow gape, bobbing, raising wings individually, and swaying.