Brown-breasted Kingfisher

Very large black woodpecker of native forests with large diameter trees, from dense, bamboo-choked temperate rainforest to rather open and stunted woodlands in drier areas. Ranges widely in large territories, often in pairs or family groups. Can be very confiding, feeding quietly at close range, when best located by strong taps as it digs out grubs from rotting wood. Male has a flame-red head while the female’s head is black with a distinctive recurved crest. Drumming is a loud, resonant, rapid double-rap that carries well.

A common understory bird found in the undergrowth or on the ground in forests of all types, from the lowlands into the foothills. The reddish-brown back and tail are noticeable when the bird flies away in the undergrowth, but look also for the white undersides, dark gray legs, and gray face. This alethe’s fiery crest is hard to see in the field and often appears as a reddish-brown crown stripe. Sometimes imitates other species, including illadopsises. Distinguished from Brown-chested Alethe by its plain gray face, dark legs, and reddish crown stripe. Gives a distinctive two-parted whistle, “go where?”, with a distinct pause between the notes.

Scarce and local in open and semiopen habitats of the high Andes, where it usually greatly outnumbered by similar Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant. Both species have mostly white tail (obvious in flight) and are best separated by bill size: White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant has a stout bill that is pale below compared with the slender, dark bill of Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant. These species can occur side-by-side and have similar habits, perching on prominent lookouts but then disappearing easily; both run well on the ground and often fly long distances.