Mayr's Swiftlet

Large, stout-billed flycatcher restricted to arid areas and oases of northwestern Peru and western Ecuador. Distinctive in range, with yellow belly, chestnut wings and tail, and black mask. It does not occur together with the similar Golden-crowned Flycatcher, which is a cloud forest species. Typically sits high up on a tree, pole, wire, or other elevated perch. Sallies out to catch insects, and also regularly eats fruit.

Small coucal with a black cap and buffy underparts. There is a localized West African population that shows black underparts, save for a rufous belly. Found in a variety of habitats with a thick understory, including tall grassland, scrub, thickets within savanna, and forest edge. Skulks in the undergrowth, occasionally emerging to sit on an exposed perch, especially when drying out after a rainstorm. Song is a descending and accelerating series of deep “boop” notes. In the small area of overlap with Burchell’s Coucal, separated by the plain black rather than barred top of the tail. Immature has a streaked back and resembles White-browed Coucal but is more rufous below. Much smaller than Black-throated and Coppery-tailed Coucals.

Common and unmistakable. Mostly black with a bright red belly, a red ear patch, and a blue rump and shoulder. Young birds are duller orange instead of red. Pairs or small flocks forage at all levels of montane forest and edges, often with mixed-species flocks. Occurs from extreme western Venezuela to Bolivia, from around 2,600 to 3,600 m. Listen for strange song: a rambling jumble of squeaks and tinkles.