Moluccan Starling

Fairly small rufous-brown bird found on the east slope of the Andes from Colombia to Bolivia. Wings and tail are bright rufous, contrasting with duller brown body and head. Note rufous cap and slightly paler eyebrow. Compare with Red-faced Spinetail, which has entirely rufous cheek and crown. Look for singles or pairs in the middle levels and canopy of montane forest and edge from around 900 to 2,000 m. Forages with mixed-species flocks, hitching along branches and probing into patches of moss and clumps of dead leaves.

Small and stout forest-dweller that hops and buzzes about in the canopy like a large, active insect. Note male’s iridescent dark blue back, bright red chest, and black line extending down the white belly. As with many other flowerpeckers, the female is considerably duller, with a red rump patch being the only patch of bright color on her otherwise gray-brown plumage. Endemic to Sumba, where found in wooded habitats throughout the island. Gives a short, descending series of whistles, as well as piercing high-pitched notes.

Largest ground-tyrant, usually identified readily by (relatively) big size and high Andean range. Usually seen as singles or pairs foraging on bogs, but also ranges into adjacent rocky puna habitats. Plumage rather plain overall with contrasting dirty whitish forehead patch; pale wing edgings create distinctive “frosty-winged” appearance in flight. Confusion only likely with smaller Ochre-naped Ground-Tyrant, on which ochre nape can be hard to see.