Striated Thornbill

A frosty little finch with a black patch around the eye and bright white wing patches and tail edges. Forages in high-altitude meadows, pastures, and grasslands, as well as in towns and monasteries, around which it can often be quite tame. Frequently seen emerging from marmot or pika burrows where it builds its nests. Usually seen singly or in pairs.

A medium-sized, chunky parrot of lowland and foothill forest and gardens. Green body, crown and a purple band across the chest with very distinctive red and yellow head pattern. Yellow streaked cheek with red streaks towards the throat. Male has a red belly. Usually seen in pairs or small flocks although congregates in large numbers at fruiting fig trees. Similar to Salvadori’s Fig-Parrot and ranges may meet. Edward’s has red on the face and a purple breast band which Salvadori’s lacks. Call, a high-pitched, piercing “tsiiik!” repeated.

Small becard occurring from southwest Colombia to northwest Peru, mainly on the west slope of the Andes and in the Marañon drainage, but (perhaps seasonally?) on the east slope of the Andes as well. Mostly found in foothills, in middle to upper levels of humid montane forest, dry forest, and more open second-growth. Male is mostly gray with bold white edges on the wing feathers and a black cap with pale spectacles. Compare with White-winged Becard, which has a black back and dark lores. Female is very different; look for her brown cap bordered with black, white spectacles, pale yellowish belly, and tawny edges on wing feathers. Extremely similar to Black-and-white Becard, with potential range overlap on the east slope of the Andes in Ecuador and Peru. Male Cryptic shows a narrower upper wingbar, paler lores, a grayer upperside of the tail, and a more slender bill than Black-and-white. Female Cryptic has a duller brownish crown with a narrower black border. These features may all be difficult or impossible to assess in the field; some birds are best left unidentified. Also note voice: song a fast series of two sweet downslurred whistles followed by a stuttered upslurred whistle, often repeated two or three times. Black-and-white’s song is slower, with longer notes.