Golden Whistler

Small warbler found in cloud forest along the east slope of the Andes from central Peru to western Bolivia. It has yellow underparts, olive upperparts, and yellow eyebrows. Central crown stripe is orange, but this can be hard to see in the field. Similar to Two-banded Warbler, but lacks a broken eyering and head stripes are not as dark. Song is a quick series of clear whistles; also gives gravelly chip notes. Usually seen in pairs at lower to middle levels of the forest. Formerly called Golden-bellied Warbler.

Compact shrike of forest edges and openings, as well as well-wooded parks and plantations, from lowlands up into mountains. Quite colorful, with a brick-red back, dark gray crown, and broad black mask, but can be difficult to spot when on well-shaded perches below the canopy. Long-tailed Shrike and Tiger Shrike can be similarly colored, but the former is much larger with a noticeably longer tail, and the latter has a paler gray crown and prominent dark barring. Song quite musical, consisting of varied musical notes and noisy chatters. Call is a repetitive dry chatter: “tchchchchch.”

One of the most common and widespread warblers; often the core member of mixed warbler flocks during migration, especially early in spring and late in fall. Two main populations: “Audubon’s” breeds mainly in the mountains of the western U.S. and into British Columbia; “Myrtle” breeds from the eastern U.S. across Canada to Alaska. All plumages show a bright yellow rump and yellow on the sides. Most “Audubon’s” have a yellow throat, but dull immature females can be off-white. “Myrtle” Warblers have a white throat that wraps around below the cheek. Both subspecies breed in coniferous or mixed forests, often near clearings or edges. In migration and winter, found in any woodland or open shrubby area, including coastal dunes, fields, parks, and residential areas. Often sallies out from a conspicuous perch to snatch insects. Also eats berries in the winter. Calls frequently: a flat “check” (Myrtle) or rising “chit” (Audubon’s). Another distinctive sedentary population, surely a separate species, occurs very locally in the highlands of Guatemala: Goldman’s Warbler. Males are strikingly black overall, and show a mostly yellow throat with white corners.