Preuss's Swallow
Petrochelidon preussi
A locally abundant swallow often seen around bridges, buildings, and culverts, where it constructs its mud nests. Distinctive cream-colored underparts contrast with its nearly uniform glossy blue upperparts. In flight, it has a noticeable pale rump and a short tail with white “windows” in the tail feathers. Rather unique within its range. Gives raspy calls in flight.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Petrochelidon preussi
- Authority
- (Reichenow, 1898)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Hirundinidae
- Genus
- Petrochelidon
Range and habitat
It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Papuan Grassbird
Cincloramphus macrurus
A medium-sized bird of grasslands. Long, pointed tail, upperparts with bold, black streaks, pale gray underparts and a whitish throat. Crown, wing and tail washed rufous. Likes to stay hidden but when flushed, flies low, from one clump of vegetation to the next. Separated geographically from Fly River and Tawny Grassbirds. Little Grassbird is smaller and lacks rufous in the wing. Australian Reed-Warbler, superficially similar but lacks streaking. More often heard than seen. Voice, an explosive “chwik!” often given while sat on top of vegetation.
Blue Bunting
Cyanocompsa parellina
Unobtrusive small bird of brushy woodland and forest understory in tropical lowlands, mainly in drier habitats. Usually seen as singles or pairs, low in weedy growth. Male blue-black overall; with good views, note the blue forehead, ‘jowls,’ and rump. Female in West Mexico gray-brown overall, in East Mexico rich brown overall. Similar female Varied Bunting has a smaller bill and different call note: a wet plik; Blue Bunting call is a high tsik in West Mexico, a metallic chink in East Mexico.
Gray Emutail
Bradypterus seebohmi
Medium-sized, gray-brown bird with a weird spiky tail. Dull streaking on the back and underparts. Scarce Madagascar endemic that is found in sedge marshes in and adjacent to eastern rainforest at middle and high elevations. Very skulky, though it will sometimes sit in the open briefly to sing. Song is a bouncy trill, usually given as a duet by a pair. Far less likely to be seen than the common Madagascar Brush-Warbler or Swamp Warbler. In case of any confusion, look for the Gray Emutail’s smaller size, streaky back, and wispy tail.
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