Wailing Cisticola

An odd small redstart of open dry forests. Male doesn’t look like any other redstarts; somewhat resembles magpie-robins, which do not share its range. Dark head and white wingbars are striking; slate-blue sheen on the cap is often not visible. Female has weak warm tones on the tail, unlike most other female redstarts, but her two white wingbars and white eye-ring are unique.

Small, brown bird of rainforest floor. Plumage overall dark chestnut brown with a paler throat and blackish tail; bill is thin and slightly decurved. A seldom-seen resident of tall humid forest, where it forages in leaf litter around old fallen logs, tree buttresses, and upturned root masses. Always on or near the ground, flicking leaves in search of insect prey. Usually encountered alone and does not follow mixed-species flocks. Most readily detected when flushed or disturbed, and may assess an observer from a low perch, giving a sharp squeaking call note and moving about nervously. Song, given infrequently, is a series of clear, descending, whistled notes with an impatient quality, sometimes ending in a hard rattle. Very similar to South American Leaftosser; Short-billed has shorter bill and is more uniformly brown on breast and belly, but a good view may be required to verify these marks.

Fabulous hummingbird restricted to far eastern Jamaica. It is now considered a separate species from Red-billed Streamertail, which is found throughout the rest of the island. Male sports an iridescent green body and black bill to go along with his characteristic tail streamers, though be aware that they might be missing in young males and molting birds. Female lacks a long tail and is much like female Red-billed Steamertail, but her bill is entirely black. Female is also similar to Vervain Hummingbird, but is larger and longer billed. Inhabits forest in both lowlands and mountains, and sometimes comes to feeders.