Sao Tome Green-Pigeon

Look for the notably long, extremely decurved bill. Otherwise a typical woodcreeper, mostly warm brown with buffy streaks on the head and breast. Easy to identify when the only scythebill in range, but does overlap with other scythebill species. Especially beware of Curve-billed Scythebill, which typically has less streaking on the back (but streaking is variable across range, hence some might be best left unidentified). Red-billed’s red bill is usually obvious enough to distinguish from Brown-billed Scythebill, but can be difficult to judge in certain conditions. Note Red-billed is often found in drier forest than Brown-billed. Hitches up tree trunks much like a woodpecker. Most often seen following mixed-species flocks in the forest, sometimes in adjacent second growth. Typically below 1,000 m, but locally higher.

Small nuthatch with a large-eyed appearance. Blue-gray above and white below with a black crown and rusty sides. Very similar in appearance to the closely-related Przewalski’s Nuthatch, but no range overlap. Inhabits coniferous and mixed forests in the Himalayan foothills; male frequently perches on the tops of conifers during breeding season, giving an odd waggling display. Calls loudly and frequently with an insistent series of flat nasal bleats.

A small sunbird that is rare within its tiny central Tanzanian range. Both sexes have an unusual bright rufous panel in the wing. Males are dark bluish-purple above and gray below with a rufous band across the chest. Except for the wing panel, females are dull, with blurry spots on the underparts. Found locally in montane forest at middle elevations, mainly in the understory and at middle levels of the forest interior. The common call is a descending “tyeow,” and the song is a typical sunbird jumble.