Ash-breasted Sierra Finch

Geospizopsis plebejus

Small and notably small-billed “finch” (actually a tanager!) of the high Andes, often found in wide-ranging flocks that associate readily with other seed-eating birds. Found on stony slopes with bushes, in puna grassland, and in villages. Plumage is rather drab, but the combination of the distinctive pale spectacles, the small bill, and dark-streaked back help with ID. Adult (sexes look similar) has plain grayish underparts, which are streaky on immature birds.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Geospizopsis plebejus
Authority
(Tschudi, 1844)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Thraupidae
Genus
Geospizopsis

Range and habitat

Migration
Complete migrants

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Puna Snipe

Puna Snipe

Gallinago andina

Small, cryptic brown sandpiper found locally in the high Andes. Favors bogs, wetlands, and lakeshores with rushes and other cover. Range does not overlap with other species of snipe, so identification is usually by default. Mainly found as singles or small loose groups, and rarely seen until flushed from close range. Note very long bill, cryptic striped upperparts, striped face, and yellowish legs. Flushes suddenly with raspy calls and flies quickly away, sometimes in rather bounding flight.

Roraiman Barbtail

Roraiman Barbtail

Roraimia adusta

Small, boldly patterned bird of mossy tepui forests. Mostly rufous-brown on back and tail, with dark ear patch, bright white throat, and dark underparts streaked white. Found only in humid, mossy forest on tepui slopes, where it is often one of the more common understory birds provided moss growth is sufficient. Clambers over branches and climbs small tree trunks, gleaning insects from bark and probing into moss, usually in the understory but up into middle levels as well. Often follows mixed-species flocks. Contact call between members of a pair is an sharp squeak. Song is a series of 6–9 high-pitched, forceful notes, the first somewhat lower pitched. Unlikely to be mistaken for other species given bold plumage pattern and restricted range.

Sokoke Pipit

Sokoke Pipit

Anthus sokokensis

A rare small pipit found in a limited region of the East African coast, where it is very local in coastal forest. Rich rufous-brown above and white below with bold streaking on the breast. Inconspicuous, spending most of its time on the ground, although it will perch in trees, especially when disturbed. Found in forest, like Tree Pipit, but more richly colored on the back and paler on the face and belly. The call is a high-pitched, descending whistle; the song, given in flight, consists of a simple series of whistles. 

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