Olive Straightbill

Tiny hummingbird of tepui highlands. Both sexes distinctive: males have long cheek tufts with black spotting, while females are heavily streaked below. Both have a white rump band like other coquettes. Found only in humid forest and scrub in the tepui region. Feeds on nectar by infiltrating territories of larger hummingbirds; also presumably eats tiny insects. May be seen resting on exposed perches. Both sexes are darker than other coquettes in range, and this species typically occurs at higher elevations than others.

Large finch with a long spiky tail. Mostly gray with olive-green wings and tail. Note the bicolored bill (dark above and yellow-orange below) and the broken white eye-ring. Inhabits higher elevations, in dry scrub, rocky areas, and grassy fields with scattered palms. Sings a high, thin “tsi, tsoweee,” repeated continually.

Widespread and common but patchily distributed. Male is bright yellow with saturated orange on forehead. Typically shows less brownish-olive tone on back and wings than many yellowfinches, but southern populations of Saffron are duller and browner above. Females are duller than males, with southern populations even browner and streakier. Could be confused with Grassland Yellow-Finch, but that species is usually duller and more heavily streaked above. Orange-fronted Yellow-Finch is smaller. Saffron Finch is found in dry open habitats including agricultural land and towns. Often in flocks.