Dwarf Honeyguide

Small yellow-and-black streaked antwren of mature rainforest canopy. Males are yellow with extensive black streaking; females are similar, with a reddish wash in the face. Yellow throat of both sexes distinguishes them from similar Pygmy and Moustached Antwrens (with white or buffy throats); female Sclater’s also have streaking on the center of the breast, unlike those species. Moves singly or in pairs with mixed species flocks in the forest canopy, but very difficult to see, and much more often heard. Listen for a slow series of 3-6 whistles, “wheew, wheew, wheew, wheew,” similar to a Fasciated Antshrike song but higher pitched and slightly weaker.

A typical thrush in shape and size, but with unusual brown coloration. Varies significantly across the three islands where it occurs, and these populations may be full species. The Grand Comoro birds have plain pale brown underparts, the Moheli birds have darker blotching below, and the distinctive Anjouan birds are scaled on the underparts. Found in humid forest, secondary habitats, and plantations, mostly at higher elevations, though down to sea level in some places. The song is a typical thrush mix of whistles and quavering notes, whose exact structure varies on the different islands. Also gives “pik” notes, short trills, and a high-pitched “seet.”  

Blue and gray jay with a black mask and white crown. It’s restricted to Andean cloud forest in northwestern Ecuador and western Colombia. Similar to both Turquoise and Black-collared Jays, but lacks the black breast band and has a dark gray back and breast. Noisy groups roam widely through the forest, giving a fun variety of strange calls, some of which sound like they came straight from an 80’s arcade game.