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GENUS HABIA

(4 species). Rather plain cardinalids (formerly considered as tanagers), typically

found in small groups foraging in lower and middle levels of shady forest understory. Often rather vocal.

CARMIOL’S [OLIVE] TANAGER  Habia (Chlorothraupis) carmioli 17–18cm.

Humid forest and adjacent shady second growth. Typically in noisy groups at

low to mid-levels, roving through leafy understory, often with Tawny-crested

Tanagers, ovenbirds, other species. Rather featureless olive-green plumage is a

good field mark, plus stout bill, voice, and habits. Ages/sexes similar. Cf. female

Red-throated Ant-Tanager, which has pinkish legs and feet, contrasting pale

throat. SOUNDS: Common call a series of (typically 3–9) harsh, piercing to

grating whistled notes, vaguely parakeet-like, skeíer skeíer..., 3–4 notes/sec, at

times alternated with squeaky and metallic conversational notes. Song a rapid-

paced medley of shrill and squeaky whistles, chips, trills, each usually repeated 2–6x; song can flow as a

continuous stream for over a minute. STATUS: Fairly common to common on Caribbean slope, mainly

300–1000m; in smaller numbers to lowlands and locally to 1400m; a few spill over to n. Pacific slope.

(Nicaragua to nw. Colombia.)

*RED-THROATED ANT-TANAGER  Habia fuscicauda 18.5–20.5cm. Humid

lowland forest edge, adjacent second growth, overgrown plantations, streamside

thickets; not typically well inside primary forest. In pairs or small groups

foraging in shady thickets, rarely at mid-levels; attends army ant swarms. No

range overlap with Middle American Ant-Tanager; cf. Carmiol’s Tanager. Juv.

(plumage held briefly) overall sooty cinnamon-brown; 1st-year male resembles

female. SOUNDS: Low rasping shehh-shehh...; hard, dry rattled ch-ch-cht. Song

comprises rich whistled phrases (mainly 4–6 notes) repeated a few times with

distinctly jerky rhythm, such as chur-uh wee chur-uh choo, chur-uh wee chur-uh

choo…or simply huh ch-wee-choo h-ch-wee-choo...; mostly 3–4 notes/sec. STATUS: Fairly common on

Caribbean slope, locally to 1000m. (Mexico to n. Colombia.)

*MIDDLE AMERICAN [RED-CROWNED] ANT-TANAGER  Habia [rubica]

rubicoides 17–19cm. Humid forest and adjacent taller second growth, plantations.

In pairs or small groups foraging in shady understory, often with Tawny-crowned

Greenlet and other species; sometimes attends army ant swarms. No range

overlap with Red-throated Ant-Tanager. Erectile crown stripe not always visible.

Juv. (plumage held briefly) overall sooty brown; 1st-year male resembles female.

SOUNDS: Groups often utter squeaky and spluttering conversational chips and

staccato chatters. Song a rather simple, slightly chanting repetition of (usually

5–10) plaintive to slightly ringing whistled notes, such as chiéh-chiéh..., or chiew

chiew..., series often slightly descending overall, 4–5 notes/sec. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common

locally on Pacific slope, to 1200m; mainly humid foothills, scarce and local in drier areas. (Mexico to

Panama.)

BLACK-CHEEKED ANT-TANAGER  Habia atrimaxillaris 18–20cm. Humid

lowland forest, adjacent taller second growth. In pairs or small groups foraging

in shady understory, often with mixed flocks including greenlets, tanagers, oven-

birds, antwrens; sometimes attends army ant swarms. No similar species in Cos-

ta Rica: note blackish face blending into slaty upperparts, rosy throat and breast;

male has erectile crown stripe. Juv. duller and browner overall. SOUNDS: Low

rasping shehh-shehh, similar to allopatric Red-throated Ant-Tanager and harder,

drier cheht, at times in rattling and stuttering series; might suggest a wren. Song

a pleasant, varied short medley of (usually 4–10) rich whistles with warbling

cadence, such as cheh-ree-chu reh ch-ree-chuh, 1.5–2 secs. STATUS: Fairly common in remaining forest on s.

Pacific slope, mainly Corcovado National Park. (Endemic to Costa Rica.)