Spotted Forktail

An enormous pigeon of the southern lowland rainforests. Erect, mohicanlike crest is especially long at the back. Blue-gray body with maroon on shoulder and chest, up to the throat. Very large white patch can reach the edge of the wing. Has a deep-bellied appearance and twitches the tail nervously. Forages in small groups on the forest floor. Unmistakable and does not overlap with other crowned-pigeons. Call, loud 2-note booming, sounding like a beating heart.

Dark golden-brown laughingthrush with extensive black-edged scaling all over its body. Wings are paler, brighter yellow, with slight blue-gray highlights toward the tip. Somewhat similar to Blue-winged Laughingthrush, but that species is browner, with a much broader blue wing panel and a narrow black eyebrow. Scaly Laughingthrush forages on the ground and in undergrowth, often in pairs.

Generally uncommon and local small sunbird of open and sparsely wooded habitats across a range of elevations throughout central Africa. Male is stunning, with sparkling green head and back, dark purple forehead, and purple-and-red breast band. Namesake orange “tufts” near the front edge of the wing are often hidden. Compare with other similarly plumaged sunbirds across wide range, but note breast band, extensive forehead patch, and strongly decurved long bill. Female is much duller and harder to tell apart from other dull-plumaged sunbirds in the area; note plain, unmarked face and long bill, as well as relatively unstreaked yellow belly. Typically seen singly, occasionally gathering at flowering trees and shrubs. Song starts off with a few quick introductory notes before a loud, pulsing trill. Calls include a “chik” and high-pitched “tseep!”