Torrent Tyrannulet

Spectacular flycatcher with a long and deeply forked tail. Grayish overall with a white throat and a black half collar that is continuous with the eye stripe. The wings are black with a cinnamon patch. Females have a slightly shorter tail. Usually found around palm groves, marshes, and grasslands near water. The call is sharp but melodic “djewp,” and during their hilarious noisy duet display, they cheerily raise and lower their head and raise their tail with wings open.

Frequents suburban settings across North America, along with open woods, brushy field edges, and deserts. Males vary in shades and intensity of red. Some males are yellow or orange. Females are drab gray-brown overall with plain faces and blurry streaks on underparts. Similar to Purple and Cassin's Finch, but House Finch males are more orangey-red with color equally bright on crown, throat, and breast. Red color is mostly restricted to head and upper chest, contrasting with cold gray-brown nape, back, and wings. Pale sides show distinct brown streaks, lacking red tones. Females lack bold face pattern and have more diffuse patterning overall. Often sings loudly in neighborhoods and visits feeders.

A medium-sized bird of lowland forest canopy. Blue-gray plumage with darker wings and tail, and slightly paler head. Male has a black face. Similar to male Common and Gray-headed, plus female Papuan and Black-bellied Cicadabirds, but Boyer’s has a paler head, stubbier bill and rufous underwings. Also similar to Stout-billed Cuckooshrike, but much smaller and shorter-tailed. Voice, long, piercing, nasal “kiiieeeuuu!”, which can be either upslurred or downslurred.