Yellow-breasted Racquet-tail

Unique and entertaining manakin found in lush cloud forest in western Ecuador and western Colombia. Wine-red, black, and white male is unlike any other species in range. Female is dull greenish-yellow and best identified by the orange or yellowish spot below her eye. Feeds on berries, usually at middle levels in the forest. Courtship display is unlike any other. Males hop and strut in neighboring trees at preferred display sites. They flick their wings upward, producing loud beeps by vibrating their feathers at incredibly high speeds.

Large and gorgeous bee-eater with a mostly carmine body, and blue-green head and belly. The central tail feathers are elongated. In flight, reveals a blue-green rump, and rosy underwings with black trailing edge. Found in a variety of savanna habitats. Usually in flocks, and breeds colonially in riverbanks. Often perches on the backs of mammals and large birds, catching the insects that they disturb. The call is low-pitched and raspy, less musical than most bee-eaters. Similar to Southern Carmine Bee-eater, but there is virtually no overlap in range, and easily separated by the blue-green rather than carmine throat.

A long, slender honeyeater of subalpine forest and shrubland in eastern New Guinea. All sooty gray-black plumage with long tail and very long, thin, curved bill, long white, whispy beard from the base of the bill, and a yellow-orange wattle at the back of the eye. Some white scaling on the belly. Similar to Sooty Melidectes, but Long-bearded Melidectes is larger and has a white beard. Not very vocal but gives a quiet “eh eh eh” call.