Oak Titmouse

A fairly small dove of forest and edge from the lowlands to the lower mountains. Brown above, with a gray or pinkish head, neck, and chest, bluish iridescence on the back of the neck, a pale pinkish belly, and white corners to the tail. Note the black and pale streaks under the eye and the small triangle of bare skin behind it. Similar to Amethyst Brown-Dove, but White-eared has blue on the back of the neck and white under the base of the tail. Song is an accelerating series of rising “wup” notes.

Huge coucal with a hefty bill. The head and tail usually look black, but can show a coppery or purplish sheen in certain light. Found in thick wetlands, especially papyrus. Fairly skulking, though occasionally seen in the open. Massive size is obvious in flight. The call is a slow, deep version of the typical coucal descending and accelerating series of “boop” notes. Very similar to Blue-headed Coucal, but there is virtually no overlap in range, and Coppery-tailed is larger, without a blue sheen to the head. Burchell’s and Senegal Coucals have a similar pattern, but are much smaller.

Widespread and generally common little owl of tropical lowlands, often seen and heard during the daytime. Favors open tropical woodland and edge, second growth areas with trees (including towns, even cities with wooded parks), tropical pine savannas. Persistent whistles and mobbing bands of small birds often draw attention to pygmy-owls, which can be perched up on open snags or buried deep in cover. Color varies from rusty to grayish overall, but all color types have fine whitish streaks on crown (not spots) and numerous, narrow dark tail bars.