Yellow-billed Tern

Dark, plain, long-tailed thrush. The tail is blackish with big white corners, and the wings show rufous patches in flight. Found on or near the ground in humid forest. Generally shy and retiring. Often follows ant swarms. The common vocalizations are a long, high whistle and a short “brttt” trill. Similar to Red-tailed Ant-Thrush, but has a black-and-white rather than reddish tail. Also similar to Finsch’s Flycatcher-Thrush, but has a more horizontal posture, and spends its time near the ground rather than in the mid-story.

Small, short-tailed bird found in lowland and foothill rainforest. Male is easy to identify with his glossy black body and azure crown. Female is mostly lime green with a yellowish belly; her plumage is much greener than other similar species such as Choco Manakin and female Red-capped Manakin. Most common call is a short, ringing trill. Male’s display song is a buzzy “purwit!”. Usually seen at lower to middle levels in the forest, plucking berries from fruiting trees. Formerly called Blue-crowned Manakin before that species was split. Velvety Manakin’s range includes Costa Rica, Panama, western Colombia, and northwestern Ecuador.

Handsome male is gray above with a bright red throat, black chest, and white belly. Also note white eyebrows and “moustache” stripe, as well as white panels and edges on a black tail. Female is duller, cold gray-brown above with a white belly and throat. Extremely similar to Himalayan Rubythroat: note gray flecking on white flanks of male and white “moustache” (striking in males, pale and sometimes unnoticeable in females). Breeds in alpine and subalpine open areas with scattered scrub and boulders; preferred habitat averages higher and more open than Himalayan. Winters in lowland scrub. Song is a series of loud rich warbles, which average shorter and less varied than those of Himalayan Rubythroat.