Altamira Yellowthroat

This antwren is tiny, round, and short-tailed. There are no bright colors, just a mix of buffy underparts and grayer-brown upperparts. Look for the male’s distinctive black-and-white spotting on throat. Female lacks this feature, but note her dark wing with buffy spots. Both sexes have a pale eye. Found in pairs or small flocks, usually in the lower levels of forests. Often joins larger mixed-species flocks.

Largely gray with a black head, a scruffy crest, white streaks on the throat, and a pale bill. The wings and tail are blue through the middle with black barring, leading to thick black and white bands. It is omnivorous and feeds on the ground and in the trees. It can be quite bold and often occurs around human habitation, where it may feed off garbage dumps and agricultural land. The calls include a few raspy and nasal variants of a harsh “kraaa.”

A boldly patterned species of dense woodlands and scrub. Adults are deep black with small patches of bright red on throat, crown, and vent. Youngsters are brownish with an orange vent. Both have stout conical bills, and the appearance of both is unique within its range. Often heard before seen. The song typically consists of three to five whistled “wheet” notes followed by a thin buzzy “zzzzz.” Calls include a soft “chup” and whistled “chew-wee.”