SOME LATIN AMERICA BIRDS

ANDEAN CONDOR

The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is a species of South American bird in the New World vulture family Cathartidae and is the only member of the genus Vultur. Found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America, the Andean Condor has a wingspan of up to 3.2 m.

It is a large black vulture with a ruff of white feathers surrounding the base of the neck and, especially in the male, large white patches on the wings. The head and neck are nearly featherless, and are a dull red color, which may flush and therefore change color in response to the bird's emotional state. In the male, there is a wattle on the neck and a large, dark red comb or caruncle on the crown of the head. Unlike most birds of prey, the male is larger than the female.

The condor is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion. It prefers large carcasses, such as those of deer or cattle. It reaches sexual maturity at five or six years of age and nests at elevations of up to 5,000 m, generally on inaccessible rock ledges. One or two eggs are usually laid. It is one of the world's longest-living birds, with a lifespan of up to 100 years old in captivity.

CRIMSON-BELLIED WOODPECKER

The Crimson-bellied Woodpecker (Campephilus haematogaster) is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan

The Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan (Andigena hypoglauca) is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It is found in humid highland forest, often at the tops of the trees, in the Andes of southern Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It remains locally fairly common, but has declined due to habitat loss.

This species is distinguished from other mountain-toucans by its colorful bill: red and black at the tip and yellow-green at the base, where there is a black, thumbprint-shaped mark. The black head is set off from the chestnut-brown back by a pale gray collar. Total length in this species is 46–48 cm (18–19 in) long and weight is 244-370 grams (8.6-13.1 oz).

A wide variety of fruits and berries are eaten and this species is often more willing than most largish toucans to leave the canopy to eat raspberries near the base of the trees. They tend to remain quiet while flying and are known to mix often with other birds while foraging, including larger species of tanagers, thrushes and icterids, both behavior unusual in toucans. Very little is known about the life history details for this species.

MACAW

Macaws are long-tailed, often colourful New World parrots. Of the many different Psittacidae (true parrots) genera, six are classified as macaws: Ara, Anodorhynchus, Cyanopsitta, Primolius, Orthopsittaca, and Diopsittaca. Macaws are native to Mexico, Central America, South America, and formerly the Caribbean. Most species are associated with forests, especially rainforests, but others prefer woodland or savannah-like habitats.

Proportionately larger beaks, long tails, and relatively bare, light-coloured, medial (facial patch) areas distinguish macaws. Sometimes the facial patch is smaller in some species, and limited to a yellow patch around the eyes and a second patch near the base of the beak in the members of the genus Anodorhynchus. A macaw's facial feather pattern is as unique as a fingerprint.

LITTLE WOODSTAR

The Little Woodstar, Colibri Bourdon, ColibrÍ Abejorro, or Estrellita Chica (Chaetocercus bombus) is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is vulnerable to habitat loss. Reportedly, at 7.8 cm, it measures 8 mm longer than the closely related Gorgeted Woodstar and the Short-tailed Woodstar. However, other sources list this species as the world's smallest bird at 1.6 grams, a title normally held by the Bee Hummingbird (normally reported as 25 mm smaller than the Little Woodstar).