Ochre-breasted Antpitta
Grallaricula flavirostris
Small and fairly bright antpitta found in foothills and subtropics from Costa Rica to Bolivia. Typical antpitta shape: plump and short-tailed. Dull brown above. Messy-looking buffy face and eyering. Some geographic variation: breast color varies from buffy to whitish, and some populations show bold dark scaling on breast, while others are nearly unmarked. Sexes similar. Shy and difficult to see; stays on or near the ground in forest, often perching on small limbs a couple meters high (more so than the larger antpittas). Swings its body side to side. Song can be difficult to detect: a simple, extremely high pitched, descending whistle. Occurs from around 500–2,500 m, usually lower than other small antpittas.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Grallaricula flavirostris
- Authority
- (Sclater, PL, 1858)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Grallariidae
- Genus
- Grallaricula
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Choco Tyrannulet
Zimmerius albigularis
Small flycatcher found in canopy of lowland and foothill forest in northwestern Ecuador and southwestern Colombia. It has olive-green upperparts, pale gray underparts, yellow spectacles, and yellow fringes to the wing feathers. May overlap with the very similar Golden-faced Tyrannulet in the western Andes of Colombia; in that region, ID is best confirmed by voice. Vocalizations include a soft whistle repeated every few seconds and a quick series of rising notes. Perches conspicuously high in the trees, and often holds its tail partly cocked.
Black-hooded Sierra Finch
Phrygilus atriceps
Attractive small “finch” that is actually a tanager of the high Andes; found in villages, agricultural terraces, scrubby slopes, and bogs. Associates readily with other small seed-eating birds and in some places is tame and acclimated, begging for food at picnic sites. Handsome male is striking and distinctive with a golden back and plain dark wings (compare with smaller siskins). Female and immature are duller, but dark slaty hood and golden tones to back are distinctive. Compare with Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch to south and Peruvian Sierra-Finch to north.
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet
Tyrannulus elatus
Small, small-billed flycatcher usually found in the canopy. Yellow belly with gray head and pale whitish eyebrow. Bold white wingbars. Namesake yellow crown is only sometimes visible. Sexes alike. Voice is the most obvious identification feature: listen for plaintive whistled song, “dee-DEER!” Seen singly or in pairs, usually in open forested habitats such as edges or second growth.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.