Northern Crombec

An active but easily overlooked long-tailed greenbul found in flocks in the understory and along the edges of montane forest. Can be found near ant swarms. Has a relatively long brownish tail, generally olive underparts, olive-green upperparts, a pale throat, and a gray face.  Usually found at higher elevations than other similar greenbuls. Foraging behavior and tendency to move tail and hold it lower than the body are distinctive. Often detected by its harsh chatter, “chuk-chuk-chuk,”  or its bubbling “chuk-CHURR-chrchr” song.

Local but often quite common in the Andes, favoring dry and rather open scrubby habitats, and also agricultural areas with hedges and taller trees. Large, bulky stick nests are often conspicuous in cacti and even in taller Eucalyptus trees. Often in pairs, foraging low to high in bushes and trees and running well on the ground with tail held cocked. Best identified by plain pale breast with variably contrasting rusty to buffy flanks and rump and a mostly dark tail. Plumage and voice vary regionally and multiple cryptic species likely involved.

A dark, thickset brown finch. Males throughout most of the species’ range have black faces and throats, and pink-suffused wings and flanks; the Yakutian subspecies is deeper brown on the wings and has no trace of pink. Females have no pink and are paler on the face and throat than males. Breeds above the treeline in barren rocky areas, but descends into lowlands and foothills during the winter. Often forages in open areas such as beaches and fields.