Highland Elaenia

Small sparrowlike bird found in the Caribbean and northern South America. Males are dull olive above with a variable amount of black on the face and breast. Females are plain grayish-olive overall; note the small size, short tail, and pinkish bill and legs. Very similar to female Sooty Grassquit. Found in pairs or small groups in shrubby or grassy areas and forest edge, typically on or near the ground.

Small, yellowish-olive flycatcher that ranges mainly in northern and eastern South America as well eastern Panama. Distinguishing features include its yellow throat and breast, orange face, thick wingbars, and wide bill. Similar to Olive-faced Flycatcher, which used to be considered the same species and called Yellow-breasted Flycatcher. Note their different ranges, which mostly do not overlap. Ochre-lored Flycatcher has a brighter face with a hint of orange, more distinct wingbars, and has a different voice. Its most common call is a piercing whistle given alone or in a slow series. Occasionally also gives well-spaced rasping calls. Inhabits secondary forest and light woodland, usually avoiding the interior of mature forest.

A remarkable new species of tanager described to science in 2021. It breeds in and around the Machariapo Valley in western Bolivia from roughly November to March, then disperses northward along the east slope of Andes into southern Peru. Both sexes have yellow-olive plumage and pinkish-orange bill. Male is very striking with a black stripe above the eye and a bushy, golden crest that can be raised or lowered. Female lacks the crest and eye stripe and might be confused with female Summer Tanager, but bill is brighter and more orangey. Inhabits forest that has a large amount of bamboo in the understory. Song, given from an elevated perch, is a jaunty up-and-down series that could be roughly transcribed as “pretty bird, pretty bird…” or “so pretty, so pretty…” It only sings on its breeding grounds, and is otherwise very shy, secretive and hard to see.