Red-flanked Bluetail
Tarsiger cyanurus
Beautiful adult male is shimmering sky-blue above and pale below, with orange sides and a small white eyebrow. Female and juvenile are more subdued, but still have the rufous flanks and blue tail. Breeds in mature taiga and montane forests, often favoring mossy, damp areas. Winters in a range of wooded areas, including parks and forest edges. Can be hyperactive, moving quickly across the forest floor, stopping to flick the tail downwards. Feeds on insects and berries in the autumn. Song is a short series of bright, pleasant warbles. Calls include a rising “sweet”, a descending “seet”, and a series of low, dry notes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Tarsiger cyanurus
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Genus
- Tarsiger
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Clay-colored Thrush
Turdus grayi
Drab, uniformly brown thrush with slightly warmer belly. Dull yellowish bill and very faint streaks on throat. Very common and widespread throughout Central America; limited U.S. range. Found in a variety of shrubby wooded habitats, towns, and parks. Unique color and blandness makes this rarity unlikely to be confused with other species. Tends to stay on the ground or in low vegetation, either singly or in pairs. Song is a varied series of phrases similar to a mockingbird.
Common Pauraque
Nyctidromus albicollis
Cryptically patterned nightbird; widespread and common in Central and South America, limited U.S. range. Found in shrubby woodlands. Patterned with gray, gold, and brown; note especially cinnamon cheeks and golden edges on back and wing feathers. In flight, note white outer tail feathers and white bar across the wings. Roosts on the ground during the day; actively hunts for insects at night. Song is a distinctive, rich, slightly buzzy "pur-WEEooo." Relatively long tail compared with other similar nightbirds.
Brown-backed Woodpecker
Dendropicos obsoletus
A small, short-tailed woodpecker with a brown back. Note the white facial streaks that frame a dark cheek. Males have a red back of the cap and females a completely dark cap. Found in a variety of open habitats, including savanna, woodland, scrub, and forest edge. Most similar to Cardinal Woodpecker, but separated by the dark cheek and the plain brown back. Vocalizations include a series of several wailing notes and a quiet rattling.
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