Somali Grosbeak

A medium-sized honeyeater of foothill and mid-mountain scrub. Uniform olive green with a white ear spot and indistinct streak in the base of the bill. Some geographical overlap with the similar Forest Honeyeater, the only other similar species with a white ear spot, but Scrub Honeyeater has more green in the wing and is usually in scrub rather than forest interior. Call, a “chup!” similar to other similar species or a rapid series of whistles.

Common raptor in open spaces in the high Andes and southern South America. Large, relatively broad-winged, and short-tailed raptor. As the name suggests, plumage is quite variable. Adults range from clean white to dark gray and rufous below with a gray or rufous back. Always look for the white tail with a black band near the tip. Juveniles are more confusing, usually dark brown above and buffy below with a variable amount of dark streaking below. Juveniles can also be all dark brown (but this morph is rare). Compare with Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, which is larger and broader-winged, with young birds usually darker than most Variable Hawks. Occurs from sea level up to over 4,500 m in the Andes, typically in open agricultural land, desert, or paramo, but also ranging over wooded areas.

Medium-sized brown flycatcher with an orangish tail. Note upright posture and broad-based pale bill. Forages quietly and usually singly in the lower levels of forest edge, both through gleaning and flycatching. Breeds in open forests in hilly and montane areas at 1500-3000 meters of elevation; in the winter, favors forest edge and clearings. Song is a descending whistle followed by a brief sputter of shorter notes: “Weee-pewchewchi!”