Esmeraldas Antbird
Sipia nigricauda
Shy antbird usually found in wet gullies, often near streams. Ranges in lowland and foothill rainforest in western Ecuador and western Colombia. Male is mostly dark, slaty gray; female also has brown back, wings, and lower underparts. Both sexes have red eyes and pale spots on wings that usually form parallel lines. Typically encountered alone or in pairs, and stays quite close to the ground. Song is a series of ringing chirps, each at slightly different pitch, and the last note is notably higher.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Sipia nigricauda
- Authority
- (Salvin & Godman, 1892)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thamnophilidae
- Genus
- Sipia
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Small-billed Elaenia
Elaenia parvirostris
A fairly small and very dull-looking flycatcher. Grayish brown above and whitish below with a thin white eyering, three pale wingbars, and pinkish base to the bill. Note the round head with only a very slight crested appearance. Found in woodlands and edges up to around 1,200 m. Breeds from southern Brazil to central Argentina, migrating north in the austral winter to far northern South America. Extremely similar to White-crested Elaenia, which tends to show a less obvious eyering and has only two wingbars. Note vocalizations, which include a slightly burry “wh’eer” call, a fast complex “tweedle-twee,” and single “pip” notes.

Slaty-headed Parakeet
Psittacula himalayana
A medium-sized parakeet with a bluish-gray head, green body, red bill, and yellow-tipped tail. Males and females are alike, except that males have a red patch on the shoulder. Often found in large flocks which feed on fruits, blossoms, and crops. The call is a harsh, grating screech with a metallic quality. Similar to Gray-headed Parakeet, but Slaty-headed Parakeet has a darker head, an indistinct black collar, and a different call.

Black-chested Fruiteater
Pipreola lubomirskii
Scarce fruiteater found in cloud forest along the east slope of the Andes in Ecuador, southern Colombia, and northern Peru. Male has a solid black hood that is not bordered by yellow on the neck. Female is mostly green with yellow streaking on her belly. Yellow eyes and dark legs are also useful features in both sexes to separate them from similar species. Feeds on berries at middle to upper levels in the forest. Gives very high-pitched whistles, some very short and others long and drawn out.
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