Sharp-tailed Starling
Lamprotornis acuticaudus
Iridescent green, slim-looking glossy starling. The eye is red in males and orange in females. Although the wedge-shaped tail is distinctive when clearly seen, it’s often not obvious in the field. Uncommon and local in miombo and Zambezi teak broadleaf woodland. Usually in small flocks. The song is a chattering jumble, and the call is an upslurred “sweeit.” Can look very similar to other glossy starlings, but separated by the wedge-shaped tail, the more elongated overall shape, and the lack of purple or blue in the plumage.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Lamprotornis acuticaudus
- Authority
- (Barboza du Bocage, 1869)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Sturnidae
- Genus
- Lamprotornis
Range and habitat
It inhabits open woodland (namely miombo) in Angola, northern Botswana, the southern DRC, northern Namibia, western Tanzania, and Zambia.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Yellow-winged Vireo
Vireo carmioli
Small yellowish bird; note bold wingbars and face pattern with short pale eyebrow and arc under the eye. Yellow underparts sometimes bright, sometimes paler whitish, but always some yellow tones. Could be mistaken for a tyrannulet but note thicker bill and more horizontal posture. Usually seen singly or in pairs, following a mixed-species flock through forest, edge, and second growth. Found at relatively high elevations in its limited range. Song is a slow series of short phrases, like a squeaky Yellow-throated Vireo.
Tsingy Forest Rail
Mentocrex beankaensis
Chunky rail-like bird with rich rufous coloration. Found on the floor of dry forest in and adjacent to the limestone karst “tsingy” of Bemaraha and Beanka. Usually in pairs or small groups. Very shy, and looks almost like a mammal when scurrying away from disturbance. Most common call is a long, ringing series of “tyeow” notes. Also gives deep grunts. Within its small range, only likely to be confused with White-throated Rail, but smaller, with a shorter bill and a much smaller white throat patch.
Bald Parrot
Pyrilia aurantiocephala
A most remarkable parrot with an entirely bare orange head and nape. Note the bright orange shoulder patch and in flight the red underwings. Occurs in humid forests, including those on white-sand forests. In flight gives nasal, high-pitched “skee-skee-skee” notes.
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