Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush

A distinctive mountain-tanager with tawny-orange underparts and isolated yellowish patches on cheek and below eye. Otherwise mostly blackish above with blue highlights on wings and tail. Occurs in the Andes from Venezuela to Peru, where it is fairly common in the upper subtropical and temperate zones. Pairs or small groups often follow mixed-species flocks in forested areas and edges.

Fairly common to common in native temperate forest, adjacent shrubbery, wooded patches, and thickets along rivers and streams, especially with bamboo. Loud ringing song is commonly heard, but calling birds can be elusive. At other times can be confiding, walking out at close range as if curious, usually with tail cocked. Plumage distinctive, with bright rusty eyebrow, throat, and breast. Compare with the larger and fatter Chestnut-throated Huet-huet.

A long-tailed, shy, ground-feeding species of wet broadleaf forests with dense undergrowth, especially near streams from 700 to 2,000 meters elevation. Dark brown, with white throat that fades into gray-brown chest and belly. Primarily feeds in thick leaf litter. Rather similar to the Eastern Chat-Tanager, which is a bit smaller and has a yellow eyering. This species’ full song is a loud, whistled “tsew, tsee-ew, tsee-ew, tsu, tsu, tsu,” or variations thereon, with final notes given rapidly; often sung in fragments. Songs are more clearly whistled than those of Eastern Chat-Tanager. Call is a “chep.”