Straneck's Tyrannulet

A small, long-billed, long-tailed bird of montane forest and scrub on Mindanao, with an olive back, wings, and tail, a yellow belly, a rufous head, and a pale buff throat and chest. Often cocks its tail. Juvenile has an olive rather than rufous head. Similar in shape and habits to other tailorbirds on Mindanao, but occurs at higher elevations, and has a yellow belly and rufous head. Song consists of very short, well spaced, varied phrases of fairly long, high-pitched piping notes.

Small hummingbird usually found in fairly open dry habitats or forest edges in western Ecuador and Colombia, from 600–1,800 m but locally higher in Andean valleys. Males are entirely shimmering emerald green with dark blue tail. Short straight bill. Females green above and pale gray below with dark cheek and white line behind eye. Both sexes are extremely similar to Blue-tailed Emerald but no range overlap. Otherwise unlikely to be confused given small size and plumage. Typically seen singly feeding at lower or middle levels in gardens or edges; visits feeders.

Widespread raptor of tropical America, occasionally reaching as far north as southern Texas. It can be identified in all plumages by its fiercely hooked bill and yellow or orange spots on face and bill. In flight, note the blunt, bulbous wings, strongly barred flight feathers, and broad tail bands. Male is mostly gray with faint white or tan barring on the underparts. Female has a brown collar and brown and white barred underparts; the pattern and color vary somewhat throughout its range. Juvenile is mostly white below with very sparse barring. Common call is a quick, shrill cackle. Inhabits both dry and humid forest at all but the highest elevations, and often seen soaring with other raptors or vultures.