Madagascar Munia

A gaudy, cartoonish-looking bird of tropical foothill and montane forests. Completely unmistakable; green with a black-and-yellow head and bright blue tail. Moves through the middle and upper layers of the forest in small to medium-sized flocks. Even if seen poorly, square-headed profile and long tail are distinctive. Song is a series of slightly wheezy descending whistles.

A hefty brownish member of the swallow family. Darker on the back and paler below. Note the slightly forked tail with white spots. Nests in canyons, escarpments, and gorges, as well as towns and villages; frequently in arid areas. Often seen in pairs or small groups; in winter congregates in larger flocks. Not very vocal, but sometimes gives a short, dry trill. At a distance, can be confused with “Riparia” martins; look for this species’ bright white tail patches. Separation from Red-throated Crag-Martin may be tricky, but there is little or no overlap in range.

Heavily patterned terrestrial bird of central Australia. Both sexes have pale eyebrow, pale brown back, speckled undertail, and black-and-white markings on wing. Female has buff chin and moustache, white belly, and pale gray chest, male a white moustache, black throat patch, pale brown sides, and white center of chest, with thin black breast band above white belly. Usually seen walking around in open shrubland in stony country. Note that male Copperback Quail-thrush has black chest, and Nullarbor Quail-thrush has solid black chest band connected to the throat patch. Calls include a long, high-pitched whistled "seeeep."