Collared Aracari

Uncommon large gray-brown thrush with an exceptionally long bill. Note slaty gray back, dark brown head, and mottled pale underparts. Found in moist, wet hilly and montane forests with dense shading vegetation; favors streamsides. Sings a phrase of two or three plaintive whistles, usually at dusk or dawn.

A hummingbird of forest openings and edges where it feeds in understory on flowers and insects. The male is splendidly clothed in iridescent deep blue and green. The female is dingy white below and mostly shimmering green above, but note the blue iridescence to the crown and tail as well as the blackish face. The Antillean Crested Hummingbird somewhat resembles the female of this species, but it often shows a crest, is shorter billed, shorter tailed, and lacks the Blue-headed Hummingbird’s blue tail. Vocalizations include a series of descending shrill metallic notes as well as a metallic “tic-tic-tic.”

This rather grimy-looking species is a familiar presence in many open habitats. Dark gray-brown overall with white cheeks of varying size, usually streaked with dark gray; white sometimes covers most of the head. White rump and underwing coverts obvious when in flight. Constantly gives high-pitched chattering calls when foraging in flocks.