Asian Desert Warbler

Woodstars are tiny hummingbirds that fly like bumblebees. Purple-throated is restricted to the west slope of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador, where it inhabits cloud forest, edges, and second growth from 800–2,000 m. Males have a glittering purple throat, white chest band, fairly long forked tail, and white patches on the sides of the rump. Unlikely to be confused within range. Females are trickier; note the orangey belly with a variable amount of smudgy white in the center (never as extensive as on female White-bellied Woodstar) and the thin whitish line that extends behind the eye and wraps around the neck (not as wide or buffy as on Little Woodstar). Often seen singly feeding in the canopy; visits feeders.

A unique bush tanager with its pink bill and legs, gray head, and incessant tail-wagging habit. Otherwise olive above with a yellow belly. Unlikely to be confused, but note bill and legs are gray in Peruvian population. Fairly common. Pairs or small groups forage in the middle to upper levels of forest, from around 2,100-3,000m. Typically follows mixed-species flocks.

Striking, plump finch-like species with a black hood, gray above and white below. Found in dry forests and wooded savannas, where it forages in dense shrubby areas, typically in small flocks. The song is a chirping “twasut tsee twaas.”