Northern Schiffornis

A small cuckoo of montane rainforest. Compact with a pale rufous throat and underparts with broad dark bands on a white background all the way to the tail. Sits motionless for long periods scanning for insect prey but sometimes joins mixed species flocks. Co-occurs with White-eared Bronze-Cuckoo but Rufous-throated lacks the white ear crescents and of course has the rufous throat. Voice, high piping notes, either level “peep!” or falling “piuu!” given singly or in a series.

A long-tailed kingfisher of lowland forests. White underparts and rump, dark blue upperparts with pale blue shoulder and crown. Long white tail with 2 extended central tail feathers ending in spatula tips. Sits still for long periods whilst slowly pumping its tail. Very similar to Little Paradise-Kingfisher, but Common Paradise-Kingfisher is larger, with a paler crown, white rather than blue outer tail feathers and a heavier bill. The safest way to separate, however is by vocalization. Heard more often than seen. Song, a rapidly accelerating and slightly rising series of dry notes.

Tiny hummingbird with a curved bill and a yellow lower bill. Males have a dark green iridescent back, a dark brown throat with a pale belly and vent, and dark undertail feathers. Females have an orange throat and breast with white edges to the tail, and their central tail feathers are longer than the males’. Inhabits the understory of humid forests and coastal forests (restinga), but also found in second growth and plantations. Males gather in leks emitting a barrage of high-pitched notes continuously.