Buff-banded Mountain Tanager

Dubusia taeniata

A relatively small and inconspicuous mountain-tanager found in the upper subtropical and temperate zones of the Andes. Blue above with a yellow belly and black head. Buffy breast band is not super conspicuous. Look for unique spangled blue eyebrow. Sexes alike. Found alone or in pairs, typically moving quietly through the understory of forest and edge. Often follows mixed-species flocks.

Identification

A relatively small and inconspicuous mountain-tanager found in the upper subtropical and temperate zones of the Andes. Blue above with a yellow belly and black head. Buffy breast band is not super conspicuous. Look for unique spangled blue eyebrow. Sexes alike. Found alone or in pairs, typically moving quietly through the understory of forest and edge. Often follows mixed-species flocks.

Taxonomy

Genus: Dubusia; Family: Thraupidae; Order: Passeriformes.

Scientific name
Dubusia taeniata
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Thraupidae
Genus
Dubusia

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

White-browed Forest-Flycatcher

White-browed Forest-Flycatcher

Fraseria cinerascens

An easily overlooked flycatcher of lowland forests near large waterways, lurking in the lower parts of the forest in shady areas or near cover. Distinctively dark gray above and pale scalloped gray below, with a bright white throat and a bright white spot in front of the eye. Distinguished from other flycatchers by its affinity for water combined with its bright white lores. Song consists of long, deliberate buzzy whistles rising and falling in pitch: “Dzhreee? Dzhreeerr. Dzhreeeer?”

Common Hawk-Cuckoo

Common Hawk-Cuckoo

Hierococcyx varius

A medium-sized bird that resembles a Shikra in plumage. Males have ashy-gray upperparts, white underparts with rufous streaking and barring, a broadly barred tail, and a distinct yellow eye rim. Females and juveniles are browner with bolder streaking below. During their breeding season males produce a loud, repetitive three note call. Common Hawk-Cuckoos feed mainly on insects and are specialised feeders that can handle hairy caterpillars. The species is arboreal and rarely descends to the ground. Mainly a brood parasite of babblers. Found in gardens, groves, and deciduous and semi-evergreen forests.

Menetries's Warbler

Menetries's Warbler

Curruca mystacea

Small, pale gray-buff Curruca warbler. Often cocks its contrastingly dark tail while feeding on the ground. Males have a blackish hood (unlike bolder black hood of the similar Sardinian Warbler), gradually merging into paler neck and mantle. In all plumages wings very plain. Females and young have cold-toned underparts, lacking warmer flanks of Sardinian Warbler. Breeds in tamarisk scrub, vegetated desert, and semi-desert wadis. Winters in arid zones, desert wadis, and plains. Song a short scratchy whistle about 2-3 seconds long with longer pauses. Call a low "trrrrrr."

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