Fulvous-headed Brushfinch

Beautiful little flycatcher with a spiky crest found in the Andes of northern Peru, just barely reaching over the border into southern Ecuador. Male is quite distinctive with a solid black face, black-and-white streaking, and a long crest that sticks up in front of its white crown. Female and immature are grayer with less contrasting plumage and shorter crest; the orange bill might lead to confusion with Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, but Black-crested lacks brown on the back and yellow on the belly. Very similar to Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant, but Black-crested has broader white tips to the tail; also note its more northern range. Inhabits scrub and light woodland, often giving squeaks and rapid trills.

Sociable little yellowish bird. Very similar in appearance to other white-eyes; note the yellow band running down the center of the breast and belly, connecting the throat with the vent. In areas of overlap with similar-looking subspecies of Indian and Swinhoe’s White-eye, identification may be very difficult; best separated by range and habitat. Roves about in active, noisy flocks in hill and submontane forests and forest edges. Gives a sweet, buzzy “tsee, tsee”, as well as higher, more metallic short whistles.

Classic, small warbler with greenish upperparts and a yellow throat and eye stripe. Varies geographically: can show a reddish or greenish crown. Reddish-crowned birds are easily identified, but greenish-crowned birds can be confused with other warblers. Yellow-throated can still be known by the contrast between its grayish belly and bright yellow bib. Found in moist forest, mostly montane forest away from South Africa. Feeds actively in the midstory and canopy. Pretty song is variable but consists of up-and-down series of whistled notes.