Cinereous Harrier

Large, lanky hummingbird of the high Andes; ranges from extreme southern Colombia south to Peru. Green with blue vent, white leg puffs, and fairly long tail. Birds from Ecuador have a blue forehead. Peruvian birds have little or no blue on the forehead, a coppery nape, and may show a bluish tinge on the belly. Sexes similar, though females from southern Peru can have a whitish belly. Encountered at edge of humid forest, aggressively defending flower patches.

A small, brightly colored species of dry woodlands and scrub; sometimes visits suburban gardens and parks. It is very similar to the Prairie Warbler, which has a shorter eyebrow that rarely extends much behind the eye. Many Prairies have blackish streaking on sides, while the Vitelline sometimes has dusky streaking on the sides. Similarly, Prairies usually have a white vent as opposed to the Vitelline’s typical yellow vent. Song typically buzzy with three brief introductory notes followed by a longer up-slurred note and then a long down-slurred note: dzz-dzz-dzz-zzzzee-zzzzuu.

Male’s bone-white back and belly are unlike that of any other oriole. Female has the same black head and wings but has a gray-brown back and a densely streaked belly. Both sexes have reddish tails. Shape and color scheme are similar to Maroon Oriole (minimal range overlap), which is much darker and browner overall. Forages in the canopy and sometimes perches out on exposed snags and treetops. Uncommon and localized in lowland and foothill moist forests. Song is a musical, flute-like series of whistles. Gives cat-like mewing calls.