Crowned Chat-Tyrant

A short-tailed understory robin with a bright red-orange throat that appears to glow in the shadows of lowland rainforests. Variable across its range, but all populations have a bright throat, a dark-gray to brown back, a whitish belly, and a bright white spot in front of the eye. Song is often given as a duet, with the male giving high-pitched whistles “tlee-tee, tlee-tee” and the female giving an accompanying chatter. Calls include short, questioning whistles “tuweu?” as well as soft calls and rattles. Given this species’ habitat, it is most likely to be confused with akalats, but can always be distinguished by the white spot in front of the eye. May occur locally alongside similar Olive-backed Forest Robin, but distinguished by the brownish rather than green back, and the whitish rather than yellowish belly.

Dark medium-sized rosefinch. Male is is dark pink with a lighter throat and eyebrow. Female is dark brown with light wingbars. Both sexes can be similar to Vinaceous Rosefinch, but note male’s different head pattern and female’s unstreaked underparts and noticeable wingbars. Forages on the ground in montane and hill forest, forest edge, and rocky meadows and slopes. Gives a wheezy sparrow-like “wheer.”

Hardly bigger than a sparrow, this odd little ground bird has a disproportionately loud song. The booming hoots the female gives during the breeding season are often the easiest way to find this species in the open grassy habitats it occupies. Females are more vividly colored than males, with a bright orange breast and nape, yellow belly, white throat, and speckled gray upperparts. Males have a faded version of the same general color scheme, but have less spotting on the breast and a tan throat.