Gray-crowned Warbler Phylloscopus tephrocephalus

Lively medium-sized warbler; a typical member of the “golden-spectacled” complex, with a bright yellow eyering, gray-and-black crown, greenish upperparts, and daisy-yellow underparts. Very similar in appearance to closely-related Bianchi’s, Whistler’s, Martens’s, White-spectacled, and Plain-tailed Warblers. On Gray-crowned, look out for a combination of features: a thin break at the rear of the eyering, a strong gray-and-black head pattern, bright greenish upperparts, and bright yellow underparts. Breeds from the lower foothills up to montane forests and forest edges, roughly between 1200 and 2500 meters of elevation, though elevational range depends on location; averages lower in elevation than Bianchi’s and Whistler’s Warblers, higher than Plain-tailed, and roughly the same range as White-spectacled and Martens’s. Winters in open forests and forest edge in foothills and lowlands. Forages at lower levels in the forest. Song is composed of short bright segments, usually starting with 1-2 introductory notes and ended with 1-2 musical trills or rapid series. White-spectacled has a similar song, but generally with fewer trills and at a lower pitch. Gray-crowned’s call is a rather cricket-like “chirrip.”