Short-tailed Starling

Locally abundant coastal cormorant of Humboldt Current. The species name is linked to the famous guano islands of Peru. Can be seen as singles, but usually seen in flocks, sometimes many thousands feeding, nesting, and roosting in dense masses or commuting in endless streams. Associates readily with pelicans, boobies, other cormorants, and Inca Terns. Adult is handsome with a distinctive “dinner dress” pattern of white extending up into neck and a red patch around the eye. Immature has similar pattern, but is brownish above and the plumage is duller overall.

Stunning and distinctive small finch of the high Andes; favors puna grasslands with shrubs, rocky slopes, and bogs. Black head and body is diagnostic among siskins; yellow wing and tail patches mostly concealed on perched birds, but very flashy in flight. Sexes look similar, but juvenile has an orangish bill and buffy wingbars. Feeds in low bushes and on the ground, sometimes in association with other small seed-eating birds, but also in small groups of its own kind.

A handsome small finch that appears very dark with a bright white belly patch. Head and chest black, back rich hazelnut brown, tail golden-orange. Undertail very black. Flanks scaled black-and-white. Found in most patches of tall grass up to 1200 meters of elevation. Other munias occur in the same areas, but Bismarck’s bold color patterns make for simple identification. Most common call is a chorus of soft “peep” and “see” notes, but overall relatively quiet.