Gray-headed Sunbird

A small gray warbler with a bright yellow throat and eyebrow. All plumages are very similar; immatures are slightly duller and browner. Occurs in pine forests from the southwest U.S. to Nicaragua. Usually stays high in the canopy. Listen for a choppy musical trill, often broken into two parts. Compare with “Audubon’s” Yellow-rumped Warbler, which has yellow on the sides and rump no yellow eyebrow, and yellow restricted to the throat (not breast).

Brightly-colored swallow with a deeply forked tail, pale orangish rump, black squared-off undertail coverts, and an incomplete orange collar. The underparts are always streaked, though there is geographical variation, with streaks ranging from fine and sparse to thick and heavy. Juveniles average paler and lack extensive orangish tones; may resemble house-martins but note deeply forked tail. Builds mud nests on mountains, cliffs, and on human structures. Forages over open areas. Frequently gives a short, sparrow-like “twi’wit.” Usually separated from European Red-rumped Swallow by range, but in case of any overlap, should be separated by evenly cinnamon rump (vs. bicolored), dark lores, dark stripe on nape, and bolder streaking on underparts.

Shy, furtive bird that is heard far more often than seen. Shaped like a large manakin; mostly plain greenish-brown with unique large-eyed look. Found in mature rainforest and older second-growth. Often alone but may follow mixed-species flocks; takes low perches and looks around slowly; consumes fruit and insects. In premontane forests of the tepui region, compare with Olive Manakin; schiffornis is substantially larger and more brownish. Call is a slurred, sharply inflected whistle given at long intervals and easily imitated.