Small, Colourful Birds Flashcards
What bird is this?
Saffron Finch
Male
Male is bright yellow with saturated orange on forehead. 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.
What bird is this?
Rufous-Collared Sparrow
What bird is this?
Vermillion Flycatcher
Male
Adult males are brilliant red with a dark brown mask, back, wings, and tail. Both sexes have a black beak.
The Vermillion Flycatcher’s genus name, Pyrocephalus, literally translates to “fire-headed.” And one look at a male of this species will tell you why! Its striking red color comes from its insect diet, which contains a chemical that turns its plumage bright red.
What bird is this?
Saffron Finch
Juvenile
Females are duller than males, with southern populations even browner and streakier.
What bird is this?
Females are gray-brown with faint streaks on the breast and salmon-red underparts. Both sexes have a black beak.
The best place to spot a Vermillion Flycatcher is in an open habitat near the edges of ponds and streams. These birds often wander and are sometimes far outside their normal range.
Vermillion Flycatcher
Female
What bird is this?
Rufous-Collared Sparrow
Look for this bird in Colombia in grasslands, urban areas, parks, and gardens. Rufous-collared Sparrows are well-adapted to human development and have a large, expanding range.
The Rufous-collared Sparrow’s diet is typically made up of about 80% seeds and 20% insects. However, in early summer, when insect populations increase, insects play a larger role making up to 60% of their diet. They have even been observed plucking termites from spiderwebs!
What bird is this?
Saffron Finch
Female
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.
What bird is this?
Bananaquit
Most adults have dark gray upper parts, a black crown, and a yellow chest, belly, and rump. Coloration varies across their range, including one with a dark morph that’s entirely black.
Bananaquits have something in common with many humans I know – a sweet tooth! Also known as “sugar birds” in Colombia, this species is attracted to nectar feeders and bowls of sugar. They even enter homes looking for sweet treats.
What bird is this?
Bananaquit
Small and usually colorful Bananaquits are known for adapting easily to human habitats. They like fruit and nectar, so they spend a lot of time in backyards with flower gardens or fruit trees.
This species’ reliance on humans doesn’t stop with their diet. They often build their nests on human-made objects, including lampposts and garden trellises. Look for a globe-shaped tangle of sticks and leaves between 5 and 30 feet (1.5 to 9 m) off the ground.
