Red-faced Pytilia

Unique and spectacular hummingbird of the upper humid montane forest in Bolivia. Plumage mostly black, with striking white feathers on breast and a shining blue rump. Occurs to, and sometimes just above, treeline on the east side of the Andes from western Santa Cruz department to La Paz. The only black hummingbird in its range. This species is generally patchily distributed, but can be locally common, especially where flowers are abundant.

Woodstars are tiny hummingbirds that fly like bumblebees. Purple-throated is restricted to the west slope of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador, where it inhabits cloud forest, edges, and second growth from 800–2,000 m. Males have a glittering purple throat, white chest band, fairly long forked tail, and white patches on the sides of the rump. Unlikely to be confused within range. Females are trickier; note the orangey belly with a variable amount of smudgy white in the center (never as extensive as on female White-bellied Woodstar) and the thin whitish line that extends behind the eye and wraps around the neck (not as wide or buffy as on Little Woodstar). Often seen singly feeding in the canopy; visits feeders.

A fairly large bird of lowland and montane forest. Dark gray-brown above with a rather long barred tail, a rufous chest, a gray hood, and a white throat. Juvenile has a white chest with dark flecks. Note the yellow eye-ring and base to the black bill. Omnivorous, feeding on both insects and also sometimes berries. Somewhat similar to Plaintive Cuckoo, but larger. Voice is the safest identification feature. Song is a repeated, descending series of forceful whistled notes, sometimes becoming frantic.