Band-tailed Cacique

The combination of a red bill, yellow-green eye-ring, and brown (not black) undertail are characteristic of this firefinch. The male has a pink face, crown, and underparts, while the female is mostly brown with a small pink patch between the eye and bill and a pink upper tail. Pairs and small flocks are resident in a variety of grassy savanna habitats and in cultivation, where they feed on the ground for seeds and fly into trees when disturbed. The species may join mixed-species flocks and often drinks or bathes. It gives a melodic “swee-tee-eeer” song and a spitting, tinny “prrrrrt” call. The Bar-breasted Firefinch is very similar to the Red-billed Firefinch, but has a brown (not reddish) crown; the Brown Firefinch has a brown rump.

Small flycatcher with an orange chest and a white belly. Male is bright blue above, while the female is brown above with a rufous tail. Confusingly similar to many other Blue Flycatchers, but extensively blue throat and limited orange underparts serve to identify the male. Female can be trickier; look out for relatively well-defined orange breast, rufous tail, and weak eyering (but no pale lores). Found in the dense undergrowth of hill forests. Song is a rambling and variable series of whistling, warbling, and chattering notes; also gives typical Cyornis “chak” and rattle calls.

Attractive and distinctively patterned large parakeet, very local in Chile, more common in Argentina. Favors open and semiopen habitats in drier regions with banks or low bluffs nearby, where it nests colonially in burrows. Usually in small groups and often located by its nasal laughing and crowing calls. Feeds on ground and in bushes, at times perching on roadside wires. No similar species in range, but note whitish eyering and bright yellow belly with red median patch. Also introduced to Hawaii where it is uncommon and local (but may be increasing) along the western side of Hawaii Island; favors the coast, where it roosts and nests on rocky sea cliffs.