Dusky Fantail

A medium-sized elegant wheatear with long wings and long legs. Strong sexual dimorphism: male is black and white with a bright white hood and back, while female is gray-brown with gray upperparts and an increasing amount of dark feathering on throat as they mature. In all plumages note the narrow, evenly-broad black terminal tail band. Breeds on high, barren, rocky mountain slopes. In winter, often descends to plains, steppes, and even semi-desert. Song is a mix of harsh scratches and musical whistles; often given from a prominent perch.

This antpitta has a very small range in the northern part of Colombia’s western Andes. It was described to science in 2010 and is considered highly endangered. Upperparts and hood are dull chestnut brown, and it has a gray breast and belly. Similar to Chestnut-naped Antpitta, but in Urrao the crown is much duller and throat is chestnut (not gray). Inhabits bamboo-laden understory of high elevation cloud forest, and usually very hard to see, though it sometimes visits a feeder within the Dusky Starfrontlet Nature Reserve. Song is three curt whistles; there is a pause after the first note, and the last note is higher.

A small, attractive robin with a bright crimson chest and belly. Varies across range, but male is mostly dark above and on head except for bright white forehead and pale wingbar. Base of undertail white. Female mostly brown above but red below. Generally unique and unmistakable within range. Inhabits forested areas at a range of elevations. Voice varies across range but is generally a mix of high-pitched tinkling, sweet high-pitched tweeting, and whistling.