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*MIDDLE AMERICAN [BRIGHT-RUMPED] ATTILA  Attila [spadiceus] flam­

mulatus 19–21cm. Distinctive tyrant flycatcher of lowland and foothill forest,

adjacent second growth, plantations. Forages low to high, at times with mixed

flocks and at ant swarms; often wags and flicks tail. Sings, often tirelessly at dawn,

from subcanopy. Plumage variable; note stout hooked bill, staring amber eyes,

streaked breast, bright rump. Juv. has brownish eyes, broad cinnamon tertial

edges. SOUNDS: Far-carrying, strident whistled series. Dawn song an unhurried,

often prolonged series of paired whistles, about 2 pairs/sec, typically ending with

a single overslurred note and sometimes a terminal chip, whie-dii whie-dii...wheéu

chu, or knee-deep knee-deep...whóh; at times faster-paced, with 3-syllable phrases, whie-di-di whie-di-di.…

‘Day song’ a rapid, slightly overslurred series of (usually 4–10) bright upslurred whistles, about 6/sec, such

as wh-wheéu-wheéu..., often slowing and followed by whee-dee-deu, and variations. Call a sharp nasal kí-dik

and ki-di-dik. STATUS: Fairly common to uncommon on both slopes, to 1800m. (Mexico to w. Ecuador.)

RUFOUS MOURNER  Rhytipterna holerythra 19.5–21cm. Plain rusty tyrant

flycatcher of humid forest. Mainly at mid–upper levels; sometimes joins mixed

flocks; sings from subcanopy. Perches quietly when not singing; flutters after

invertebrate prey. Notoriously similar Rufous Piha, often in same areas, has

stouter bill with less extensive pale pinkish below, paler eyering and chin; note

voice. SOUNDS:  Distinctive leisurely wolf whistle, wheeeeu-heeu, rising then

falling, 1.5–2 secs, rarely with short introductory whistle; also mournful

descending wheeeu. Song a steady series of (usually 5–20) plaintive whistles,

wheéu wheéu..., 10/7–8 secs, at times with a longer introductory whi’heeeu; at

dawn also a simple teeuu te-du, repeated. STATUS: Fairly common to uncommon on both slopes, to

1200m. (Mexico to nw. Ecuador.)

RUFOUS PIHA  Lipaugus unirufus 23–26cm. Plain rusty cotinga of humid

forest; heard more often than seen. Cf. very similar Rufous Mourner. Mainly at

mid–upper levels; sings from open midstory and subcanopy. Feeds on fruit and

invertebrates plucked from foliage; sallies more deliberately, with heavier

fluttering, than slimmer, more lightly built Rufous Mourner. SOUNDS: Loud

ringing whistles given irregularly, often in response to an abrupt loud noise:

p’wEE-oo! and cheEOo! p-wee’oo! Often simply pweEOO! suggesting Pauraque.

Hard squirrel-like clucks, often in short ‘machine-gun’ bursts when agitated.

STATUS:  Uncommon to fairly common on both slopes, locally to 1200m.

(Mexico to nw. Ecuador.)

SPECKLED MOURNER  Laniocera rufescens 20–21cm. Rarely encountered

inhabitant of humid lowland forest; overlooked easily unless singing. At mid–

upper levels, perching upright and still for long periods, fluttering after

invertebrate prey in foliage; sings from open midstory and subcanopy. Slightly

chunkier than Rufous Mourner, with patterned wing coverts, blockier head

with pale eyering; cf. larger and plainer Rufous Piha. Yellow breast tufts flared

when singing. SOUNDS:  Distinctive song a plaintive, slightly tinny, slurred

whistle, tew-i-tieh, usually 2–7×, sometimes introduced by a longer note. Call a

plaintive, slightly overslurred wheeeeeeu, about 1 sec, ending fairly abruptly.

STATUS: Scarce and local on both slopes, to 700m. (Mexico to nw. Ecuador.)

NORTHERN [THRUSHLIKE] MOURNER (SCHIFFORNIS)  Schiffornis [tur­

dina] veraepacis 16.5–17.5cm. Unobtrusive denizen of humid forest; overlooked

easily unless singing. Mainly at low levels in fairly open to dense understory;

often perches on thin vertical twigs and stalks. Distinctive but rather

nondescript: note earth-brown plumage with paler eyering, habits, voice.

SOUNDS: Haunting whistled song repeated at irregular intervals, 1st note long

and overslurred before a sharp upward inflection and abrupt ending, tjeeeuuu-í

wi-chi, 1.5–2 secs; less often a shorter tjeeuu wi-chi. Short low rattle when

agitated. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common on Pacific slope, locally to

1700m; uncommon to scarce on Caribbean slope, to 1000m; most numerous

in lower foothills. (Mexico to nw. Peru.)