Grassland Yellow-Finch

Very distinctive and very rare curassow of the central Bolivian Andes. Note distinctive blue vertical “horn” above the orange bill. Due to small range and high hunting pressure, only known from a few remote sites in the middle elevation forest of Santa Cruz and Cochabamba departments, Bolivia. Very wary and skittish, most easily detected by low, deep calls. You are part of an exclusive club if you see one of these in the wild.

Unique foliage-gleaner of dense bamboo in humid montane forest from low to mid elevations in the east slopes of the Andes. Despite its name, the bill is only very slightly recurved. Most easily found by its long, dry song. Generally in primary forest, far from human settlement, singly or in pairs. Tends to stay on small territories for long periods. From other foliage gleaners by rufous throat and supercilium, even streaking below, and straight culmen. Song a long series of accelerating but slightly sputtering dry “cak” notes.

Tiny and rather unobtrusive bird with brownish upperparts and luminous lemon-yellow underparts. Superficially similar to female and juvenile Olive-backed Sunbirds, but note gerygone’s short, uncurved bill. Forages in parks, forests, and plantations, where it often joins mixed flocks moving through the middle and upper layers. Song is variable throughout its range but invariably includes buzzy notes with obvious rises and falls in pitch.