Albertine Boubou

A large glossy-black starling that shows whitish wing patches in flight. Pairs and small groups are resident in semi-desert and desert, where they prefer rocky areas and cliffs, but they also occur in towns and scrubland foraging for fruit and invertebrates. The species breeds semi-colonially on cliffs between October and April. A ringing melodious “preeeeooo” flight call and varied warbling often draws attention to it. The Pale-winged Starling sometimes flocks together with the similar Red-winged Starling, which differs by having brick-red (not whitish) wing patches in flight, a graduated (not square) tail, and dark red (not orange) eyes.

Endemic to southeastern Brazil. Uncommon, medium-sized, overall brown flycatcher of humid tropical forest in lowlands. Note the hammerhead crest—very rarely fully raised to reveal spectacular, flame-red fan with violet-blue-black tips. Otherwise looks rather flat-headed. Also note the long bill, and pale cinnamon rump and tail. Usually found as singles or pairs in mid-levels of dense forest, where flutters actively after insects. Nest is a straggly mass of dead vegetation up to 3 feet long that hangs from the tip of a branch, often along streambeds. Often detected by single sharp squeaky calls.

Tiny hummingbird of desert lowlands and foothills; found in gardens, agricultural areas with flowers, and native scrub. Adult male with long black-and-white tail “streamers” is basically unmistakable, but greatly outnumbered by females and immatures, which look much like several other small hummingbirds. On females and immatures note the relatively long tail with pale edging to the shorter central feathers and lack of rusty tones to the plumage overall.