Principe Speirops

Distinctive and uncommon rosefinch with a long tail. Male is strikingly unmistakable, with grayish “peppery” cheeks, white wing patches, and dark pink crown, back, and breast. Female is predominantly brownish, but also has white slashes on the wings, buffy wingbars, and orangish chest coloration. Breeds in forests with dense thickets, preferring coniferous growth but varying locally, between approximately 2100 and 3050 meters; winters at slightly lower altitudes. Forages on the ground or in low vegetation, typically in pairs or small flocks.

Small bird of open arid shrubland and grasslands. Pale brown above, whitish below, with distinct pale supercilium, faint chest streaking, and long, cocked tail. Forages quietly on the ground or in thick vegetation, where difficult to see. Most easily observed when males sing in spring, as they perch up in the vegetation. Similar to Western Fieldwren but no range overlap. Compare Shy Heathwren, which has a white wing spot and darker legs.

Medium-sized terrestrial flycatcher, usually encountered near water and frequently found in urban areas where it can be quite tame. A black mask and wings contrast with the rest of the pale underparts, head, and back. The tail is black with a white tip. The call is a sharp loud “kirt.”