Chubb's Cisticola

A tiny, short-tailed songbird. Male is glossy-black above with a scarlet rump, and whitish below with a striking red throat bordered black and a black stripe running down the belly. Female is dull gray above with a red rump and whitish underparts. Juvenile resembles female, but pale-billed. Singles and pairs can be found in forest, forest edge, woodlands, and plantations in lowlands and foothills. Male differs from male Blood-breasted Flowerpecker in white underparts and black border below throat. Female Red-chested Flowerpecker is paler above than female Blood-breasted. Gives a very high-pitched song, “tzit-wut-zoo,” lower-pitched on the last note. Also gives short, sharp “tzit” calls.

This striking vireo is found in the canopy of lowland forest in northern Colombia and western Venezuela. The lime green upperparts contrast with a bright yellow eyebrow and throat, fading to paler yellow on the belly. Note the blue crown and thick bill with slight hook at the tip typical of vireos. No other species are bright green with such a hefty bill. Look for singles or pairs moving slowly in the trees, sometimes with a mixed-species flock. Sings a song with a few descending whistled notes.

Small. Olive-green above and banana-yellow below and on throat. Has a thin white eye-ring and a black patch on the face from the eye forward. Bill and legs orange. Found in forest, especially gullies, and older secondary growth. Song consists of loud upslurred notes. Call is a soft “pee-u.”