Shy Heathwren

Colorful small finch, usually found in grassy forest clearings or forest edge habitats, often in close association with bamboo. Favors foothills and montane areas throughout much of its range, but descends into coastal lowlands on small islands and in the far eastern end of its range, on Australia’s Cape York Peninsula. Bright green plumage, with an obvious blue face and red tail and rump. Juveniles lack the blue face and are slightly duskier below. Forages at all levels of forest, from the ground up into the canopy, often taking seeds from grasses and bamboo. Call very thin and high-pitched.

Very active, a small, greenish-brown flycatcher with yellowish underparts. Shows a short bill with orange base, faint whitish eyebrow, and contrasting white wing bars. Sexes similar. Common, often alone or in pairs foraging; territorial, found in dry areas with scrub and small trees or mangrove border. Song is a fast trill “tr’r’r’R’R’R’R’r’r’r’r.” Similar to Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet, which shows more of a crest, less contrasting wing bars, and heavier and more curved bill. Found in northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.

Skulking and generally inconspicuous brown bird of humid tropical forest. Found as singles or pairs, clambering in vine tangles or other dense understory, at times in leaf litter on the forest floor; usually difficult to see clearly. Note the rich buffy throat, conspicuous buffy eyebrow and eyering, and rusty tail on an otherwise plain dark brownish bird. Song is a descending series of nasal notes, speeding up and often sputtering at the end. Occurs from central Panama (where approaches the range of Fawn-throated Foliage-gleaner, and best distinguished by voice) throughout much of northern South America, to central Brazil.