Brown-banded Antpitta

Grallaria milleri

Dingy-looking antpitta restricted to cloud forest in Colombia’s central Andes. Plumage is mostly brown with whitish throat and belly. Brown breast band is often very indistinct. Similar to Tawny Antpitta, but has a pale belly and inhabits forest. Like many other antpittas, it spends most of the time on the forest floor where it is normally very difficult to see in the gloom. It usually visits a feeder in the Rio Blanco Ecological Reserve near Manizales, where it is much easier to observe. Song is a three-note series, and each note is higher than the last.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Grallaria milleri
Authority
Chapman, 1912
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Grallariidae
Genus
Grallaria

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Cocos Tyrannulet

Cocos Tyrannulet

Nesotriccus ridgwayi

Small and drab flycatcher found only on Cocos Island, which is located in the Pacific Ocean about 300 miles southwest of mainland Costa Rica. Most birds are brown above with a buffy belly, with tan wingbars and a pale eyebrow. Some individuals have a brighter yellow belly or an olive-tinged back. Inhabits humid forest as well as scrubby and swampy areas, often in dense vegetation. Typical song is a short, descending sputter.

Atlas Flycatcher

Atlas Flycatcher

Ficedula speculigera

Very similar and closely related to European Pied Flycatcher. Males have mixed features of Collared and European Pied Flycatchers, but note very large white wing patch and big white forehead. Also note the absence of a white collar and pale rump patch on Atlas Flycatcher. Females are very difficult to distinguish, but note gray upperparts with paler rump and big white primary base patch. Song is a cheery up-and-down series, quite similar to that of European Pied. Calls subtly different from European Pied Flycatcher with a slightly more metallic "whit" and a slower tempo. Inhabits a variety of wooded habitats in the Atlas Mountains.

Togian Golden-Bulbul

Togian Golden-Bulbul

Hypsipetes aureus

A thrush-sized songbird with a long powerful bill, an olive head and upperparts, a dark eye, and uniform yellow underparts. Juveniles duller and pale-eyed. Occurs in forest and plantations within the lowlands and foothills, typically in small groups. Restricted to the Togian Islands. Larger-bodied and heavier-billed than Citrine Canary-Flycatcher and Golden-bellied Gerygone. Gregarious and noisy, with loud vocalizations consisting of a complex combination of whistles, rasping calls, and warbles, often introduced with “chup” nasal notes.

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