Maroon-backed Whistler

Scarce blackbird found only at higher elevations in the northern half of Colombia’s eastern Andes. It is quite slender and nearly all black, but has a maroon patch under the shoulder which is mostly hidden from view when the bird is perched. The dark bill and eye help to separate it from other similar species if the wing patch is not visible. Usually seen in the forest canopy and may congregate in large flocks. Song is a chaotic series of sharp, shrill notes mixed with clacking calls.

Rare flycatcher known only from a few sites in the Colombian Andes, mainly in the northern part of the central range. It is fairly small and mostly yellow, with a gray crown and broad, yellow wingbars. Yellow and gray smudges on ears can be very indistinct. Often confused with the much more common Yellow-olive Flycatcher, but bill is narrower, wingbars are brighter yellow, and voice is different. Typical song is a short burst that starts off as a dry rattle and then morphs into airy squeaking. Inhabits humid forest and sometimes joins mixed species flocks.

A large, heavy-billed songbird. Highly variable. In the Kai islands and western Lesser Sundas, plumage is uniform blackish-gray; on Sumba, birds are pale gray above with an all-black tail, black face, and white belly; and in the eastern lesser Sundas, darker slaty-gray above with a black face mask. Singles and pairs frequent many habitats including forest, edge, woodland, and savanna, from lowlands into mountains. Large size and very heavy bill of all forms distinguishes them from all cicadabirds. On Sumba, entirely black tail, lacking white, rules out Black-faced Cuckooshrike. In other areas, Wallacean is separated from Black-faced by the absence of a clean white belly, the darker upperparts, and the less distinct black face. Gives nasal, squabbling, and upslurred buzzy notes.