Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur

Sitio realizado por aficionados a la observación de aves desde 10 de enero 2006

The three saltators

There are three saltatos at Costanera: the Golden-billed Saltator Saltator aurantiirostris, the Greyish Saltator Saltator coerulescens and the Green-winged Saltator Saltator similis.
The two saltators which cause confusion are the Greyish and Green-winged ones. The Green-winged Saltator (19 cm) is more frequently seen at Costanera, the Greyish one (20 cm) appears with no definite seasonality.
These two birds are quite alike, practically the same size and same type and colour of bill. The eyebrow is the identification key. These two birds are quite alike and almost the same size, same type and colour of bill. The eyebrow is the identification key. In both it begins at the bill base and its length gives the answer of who is who. That of the Greyish Saltator barely goes beyond the eye. That of the Green-winged Saltator runds down the neck. The olivaceous green on the wing and upperparts is exclusive to the Green-winged Saltator, as the name indicates.
But confusion does not end here. Our third saltator is the Golden-billed Saltator, a resident bird which breeds at Costanera. The adult is easily differentiated from the other two. The white eyebrow, which begins over the eye and runs down the neck, is not paid attention to, because the orange bill and the collar enclosing the white throat remove all doubt at once. But the Golden-billed Saltator juveniles have a black bill and no collar during a stage of their growth. And again we come back to the eyebrow. The juvenile's eyebrow also begins over the eye but unlike the adult's is buff.
Voices are included

Green-winged Saltator
Saltator similis
Pepitero verdoso/Green-winged Saltator© J. Simón Tagtachian Listen to the voice © José Luis Merlo
Pepitero gris
Saltator coerulescens
Pepitero gris/Greyish Saltator© J. Simón Tagtachian Listen to the voice © Cora Rimoldi
White eyebrow: It begins at bill base and goes down the neck Blackish bill Lacks collar. White throat flanked by black lines. Grey face Olivaceous green wings and back White eyebrow: It begins at bill base and barely exceeds the eye Black bill Lacks collar. White throat flanked by black lines. Grey face Lacks green on wings and back
Buff eyebrow: it begins over the eye and goes down the neck Black bill Lacks collar. Buff throat flanked by black face Lacks green on wings and back White eyebrow: it begins over the eye and goes down the neck Orange bill Black collar enclosing white throat flanked by black face Lacks green on wings and back
Juvenile Golden-billed Saltator
Saltator aurantiirostris
Pepitero de collar/Golden-billed Saltator© J. Simón Tagtachian
Adult Golden-billed Saltator
Saltator aurantiirostris
Pepitero de collar/Golden-billed Saltator© J. Simón Tagtachian Listen to the voice of the adult and juvenile
© José Luis Merlo