Wattled Brushturkey

A tiny, common swiftlet found over lowland forest. Gray below with a paler belly, a darker throat, and dark patches on the underside of the base of the forewing. Black above with a distinctive white band on the rump. Tail square, and dark under the base. Nests in caves, where it uses echolocation. Similar to Gray-rumped Swiftlet, but Pygmy is slightly smaller, with a cleaner white rump band. Gives grating calls in flight.

Unmistakable; glittering pinkish-purple throat is distinctive in good light, but also note the snowy white chest band, which is always obvious. Medium-sized with a rather short, straight bill. Like other sunangels, holds wings out for a few seconds after it lands. Based on plumage, could be confused with Purple-throated Woodstar, but the sunangel is larger with a much different flight style. The only sunangel within limited range on the west slope of Andes; occurs mostly in Ecuador, but barely extends into Colombia. Occurs in a rather narrow elevational band in the upper subtropical zone from around 1,700 to 2,300 m. Can be seen at all levels in the cloud forest, edges, and gardens, but most frequently at middle heights within the forest. Visits feeders.

A nondescript sparrow-sized songbird with a slender, downcurved bill. Entirely olive-green above and uniform pale gray below, but note head pattern, which includes a prominent whitish smudge on the cheeks and dull bare skin below the eye. Juvenile has a pink facial patch. Singles, pairs, or groups inhabit scrubland, wooded areas, and coconut plantations in lowlands. Confined to islets in the Moluccas and to West Papua, where it is readily identified by its head pattern. Harsh, squeaky vocalizations include “tchew” and “grrt” notes and “chi-witchoo” or “witch-oo” phrases.