Firethroat

Small songbird of shady undergrowth, especially dwarf bamboo thickets, found in mid-elevation coniferous or deciduous forests during summer and in shady woodlands and parks during winter. Male uniquely slate-gray; both sexes have warm, rufous-brown rump and tail. Female intricately streaked, rather similar to Black-faced Bunting, but the latter lacks any rufous on tail, and face is not as cleanly striped. Call thinner and sharper than Black-faced Bunting.

This antwren is known only from a small area in northeastern Peru and adjacent border areas of Ecuador. It is confined to rainforest that grows in nutrient-poor soils with a specific mineral composition. Note the yellowish underparts, black crown and black eye-stripe separated by a pale eyebrow, and bold white wingbars and tail edges. Similar to Dugand’s Antwren, but male has yellowish underparts and female has a black (not brown) crown. Stays quite high in the trees and often joins mixed-species flocks. Song is decelerating series of notes that rises and then falls.

Small black-and-white flycatcher found in wetter forests of northern Queensland. White underparts except for black breast band, with black mask, tail, and wings, blue eyering, and back back with white band. Rear of head has large puffy white collar (like a space helmet). Compare Frill-necked Monarch, which lacks black breast band and has more black under chin. Forages treecreeper-style, moving up and down tree trunks looking for insects in the bark. Calls include a fast repeated whistle.