Short-billed Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus parvirostris

A drab cloud forest bird found along the east slope of the Andes. It has olive upperparts, gray underparts, a pale eye, and yellow on throat that wraps around the sides of the neck. Very similar to Yellow-throated Chlorospingus, but note Short-billed’s “handlebar mustache” shape of the yellow throat, as well as its whiter eye. Typically found in pairs or small groups fairly low inside the forest, often in gloomy gullies near streams.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Chlorospingus parvirostris
Authority
Chapman, 1901
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Passerellidae
Genus
Chlorospingus

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Croaking Cisticola

Croaking Cisticola

Cisticola natalensis

Chunky, large-billed, streak-backed cisticola. Brown overall, without bright rufous in the plumage. Males are much larger than females. Found in grassland and savanna with scattered bushes. Song varies geographically but always consists of a rising note with a croaking quality. Larger than Stout Cisticola and lacks a bright rufous crown. Distinguished from most other cisticolas by large size and heavy bill. As with all cisticolas, habitat and voice are important cues in identification.

Arctic Tern

Arctic Tern

Sterna paradisaea

Elegant seabird with extremely long wings and forked tail. Adults are pale gray with white cheek, black cap, and red bill and legs. Very similar to Common Tern; note shorter bill, shorter legs, gray belly, and paler gray wingtips with very limited dark tips. Young birds show partial black cap and black bill and legs; look for pale gray wingtips and stubbier legs to separate from Common Tern. Rarely seen away from breeding grounds on coastal islands or small ponds in the Arctic tundra. Migrates offshore, heading for wintering grounds in Southern Hemisphere.

Westland Petrel

Westland Petrel

Procellaria westlandica

Rather large, wholly dark petrel. Breeds in New Zealand and ranges across the temperate South Pacific to Chile, where it is uncommon to locally fairly common in the Humboldt Current and fjords. Often found with much commoner, but very similar White-chinned Petrel and is not easily identified unless distinct black bill tip of Westland can be seen (White-chinned has pale bill tip). Slightly smaller Parkinson’s Petrel looks very similar to Westland, but favors warmer tropical and subtropical waters and has a smaller, more rounded head and slightly slimmer bill.

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