Sumba Flowerpecker

Small stunning tanager with unbelievable color pattern: electric cerulean breast and flanks, black belly, green nape and wings, creamy back, golden face and throat, and black and chestnut ear patch. Sexes similar; females and young birds look duller than males. Uncommon in subtropical forests in the western and central Andes of Colombia. Typically found in pairs or small groups, often following mixed-species flocks. Visits fruit feeders.

Gradually increasing after near extinction in the 20th century but still the rarest of the three North Pacific albatross species. Adult is striking: white overall, with dark wings, white upperwing coverts, a rich yellow nape, and bright pink bill. Juvenile blackish brown with pink bill; young birds attain increasing amounts of white in plumage as they age. Forages over a large pelagic range but sometimes seen from shore.

Found in forest edge, farmland, and plains, this adaptable and elegant small shrike is a common sight across much of its range. Gray crown and back contrast sharply with white throat, black mask and wings, and bright orange sides. Noticeably smaller than Long-tailed Shrike, with which it shares its range; unlike that species, lacks orange on the back. Regularly perches on exposed perches such as telephone lines, posts, and snags. Song musical and variable, a series of buzzy, whistled, and warbled notes; incorporates mimicry of other species. Calls include repeated harsh chattering notes, as well as high barking and piping notes.