Orange-billed Babbler

A very small flycatcher with a long bill for its size and a yellow eye. It is olive-brown above with whitish wingbars and indistinct streaking on white underparts. Considerable variation exists among subspecies in the color of the belly (gray or yellow) and the color of the back (dark gray or brown). Occurs in woodlands, shrubby habitats, and pastures with shrubs where it can be found foraging in the lower and middle levels; mostly in pairs. The song is sharp and descending series of trills “tick-tick-tr’r’r’r’r’r’r’r.”

A tiny bird of forest and edge from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains. Has a fairly long, thin, slightly curved bill, gray sides, whitish coloring from the throat to the belly, and yellowish on the rump, under the base of the tail, and on the edges to the wing feathers. Males have slightly glossy blackish upperparts, whereas females have an olive back and a grayish head. Similar to Scarlet-collared, Black-belted, and Red-keeled Flowerpeckers, but lacks any red on the underparts. Voice includes a typical flowerpecker “tuk!” given regularly, sometimes mixed with a high-pitched piping “tsii!”

This stunningly blue jay is found in the subtropical zone of the Andes from Venezuela to Ecuador. Both sexes are overall deep cobalt with a slightly paler crown and a black mask that connects to a thin black breast band. Unique in most of range but overlaps with Turquoise Jay in Ecuador. Note deeper blue color of Black-collared, with less contrasting pale crown and throat. Generally uncommon to rare. Pairs or small groups occurs in cloud forest and edge from around 1,800-3,000m.