Black Solitaire

If you observe the Black Solitaire songbird closely, it is distinctive and easy to recognize. It is predominantly jet black, with a white cheek, white tuft beneath the shoulder, and white outer tail feathers (which can be easily observed from below). The bird’s red eyes and orange lower mandible are also noteworthy, and the sexes appear similar. This bird is generally uncommon to rare and has a limited range in western Colombia and Ecuador, but it can be abundant in specific areas. It seems to be most frequently found in highly humid, mossy cloud forests, but its movements are not well-known, perhaps related to food availability. It is typically seen alone in the middle to upper levels of the forest, and you can identify it by listening for its simple song, which is a single, evenly whistled note with a slightly rough tone, given at widely-spaced intervals. You can spot them during our bird photography tours in the Chocó Andino in Ecuador.