Mottled Munia

A medium-sized bird of lowland forest on the northwest islands. Rusty below, gray head, chest and back with brown wings. No other birds in range share this color scheme. At a glance, other species may appear similar although Little Shrikethrush is smaller, and Rusty Pitohui is larger with a white eye. Voice, a series of short, spaced phrases. Some, medium-pitch, bulbullike warbles and other sharp “wik!” notes.

Medium-sized antpitta found in elfin forest and páramo near or above treeline in the Andes from western Colombia to extreme northwestern Peru. Typical antpitta shape: plump with short tail and long legs. Dull brownish plumage, darker above and buffier below. Sexes similar. Fairly common and much more conspicuous than most other antpittas; frequently seen bounding around in the open, though typically close to shrubby cover. Sometimes sings from a fairly prominent perch; listen for three piping whistles, a high first note followed by two lower notes.

Male is iridescent green above and dark below, with a purple band across the breast. Female is nondescript, with a pale eyebrow and blurry streaking across the pale yellowish underparts. Restricted to the island of Pemba, where it is common in all habitats. Similar to Tsavo and Violet-breasted Sunbirds, but separated by range. Song is a typical sunbird high-pitched jumble; also gives “tsik” calls.