Black-fronted Ground-Tyrant

This large, flashy hummingbird is a common resident throughout much of the Andes, where it inhabits lush cloud forest and frequently visits feeders. Note the white breast patch and long, straight bill. The white tail markings really stand out when it flares its tail, which it often does when interacting with other hummers around feeders. Male is darker than female, sometimes almost black, which makes his colorful crown patch more evident. Birds found south of central Peru and north of the Colombia-Venezuela border region are now considered to be separate species, Gould’s Inca and Green Inca respectively.

Distinctive but variable: all plumages are some bold combination of black, white, and gray. Shows considerable variation in plumage across the world, but never has a clear, thin and contrasting eye-brow like White-browed or Japanese Wagtail. Occurs in varied open habitats, from wild grassy areas and wetlands to paved car parks and grassy lawns. Usually seen as singles, pairs, or small groups walking and running around, pumping the long, white-sided tail up and down. Identified easily in flight by its loud, thick and distinctive “tsee-tsee’ call.

Medium-sized, olive-brown flycatcher. Faint reddish wingbars and yellowish undersides, with diffuse olive streaking on the breast. Perches upright with a typical flatbill body shape: a big head and a long tail. Found in bamboo and occasionally in dense viny secondary growth, especially around water. Gives a variety of whistled calls and songs; its main song is a three part whistle-trill-whistle series: “tew, tetrrrrrr-tew-tew-tew. . . .”