Violet-backed Hyliota

Beautiful orangish raptor with a widespread distribution across Central and South America. Overall cinnamon-colored with dark barring on the underparts. Upperparts are darker brown except for contrasting cinnamon shoulders. In flight, note white tail band and mostly cinnamon flight feathers. Immatures can be mostly whitish on the head and belly, often with heavy dark markings. Note shape (short-tailed and long-legged) and habitat. Singles or pairs are found in open habitats, often perched conspicuously on a fence post or treetop.

Large but rather plain and often local flycatcher of semiopen and open scrubby habitats in drier regions of the Andes and Patagonia. Perches prominently atop bushes, trees, and wires. Runs well on ground, chasing down small lizards and other prey. Distinguished by overall drab plumage with grayish belly and vent, blackish tail, and stout bill. Compare with Great Shrike-Tyrant, which has limited range overlap.

A plump, dark-backed bushshrike with a creamy throat; buff-rufous flanks, thighs and belly; and a striking white stripe on the dark wing. The female is duller and less glossy than the male. Pairs are shy and skulking residents of thickets and tangles in fynbos, forest, and woodland. The species forages furtively by creeping stealthily and hopping slowly, close to the ground. Normally boubous are first detected by their loud distinctive ringing duets: “wheeet-whee-do-do-do”; their single loud “wheee” notes; and a rattling scold like the vibrating of a seed-pod shaker. The similar Tropical Boubou has paler underparts than the Southern Boubou.