Stripe-cheeked Greenbul

Small, brown antwren with a red back patch. Males have a black-speckled throat; females have tan throat and underparts. Part of the species complex previously known as “Stipple-throated Antwren.” Forages singly or in pairs in the understory of mature rainforest, often in mixed-species flocks with other antwrens and antshrikes. Song is a rising-falling series of high pitched notes.

An unusual and colorful rainforest bulbul. The upperparts are dark olive-green and the underparts yellow. There are yellow spots at the corners of the tail and blue bare skin above the eye. Found in the understory of rainforest and lush secondary habitat. Sometimes joins mixed flocks and follows ant swarms. The calls are chirpy notes typical of bulbuls. Similar to Gray-headed Bristlebill, but separated by the olive-green rather than gray head, as well as the blue bare skin above the eye. Also similar to Red-tailed Bristlebill, but easily separated by the green tail. The song is a series of melancholy whistles which usually descend, and which are very similar to some vocalizations of Red-tailed Bristlebill. 

This long-tailed beauty is Jamaica’s national bird along with Black-billed Streamertail, which is now considered a separate species. Male has a glittering green body, black crown, and red bill; younger males and molting birds may not have the signature tail streamers, giving them a somewhat different look. Female lacks the long tail and is similar to Black-billed Streamertail, but usually shows a pink tinge to the base of the lower part of her bill. Her relatively large size and longer bill help separate her from Vervain Hummingbird. Found in forest in most of the island except for the far east, where it is replaced by Black-billed Streamertail, and readily comes to feeders. Local names for this species include “doctor bird” and “swallow tail humming bird”.