Buff-throated Sunbird

A large brown francolin with some darker streaks, dark blackish legs, and a distinctive bare red face and throat. It frequents grasslands and savannas where it is bold and conspicuous, standing on open branches and termite mounds to call its loud screeching “kreeeeet-kreeeeet-kreeeet” call at dawn and dusk. Red-necked Francolin differs by having red legs and feet, by often having white plumage on the underparts or face (depending on the race), and by preferring thickets and forest to open habitats.

A large bulbul with a short brown crest, a gray face, a white throat, a greenish-brown back, and a dirty yellow breast and belly. Found at low and middle elevations in primary and secondary forests and forest edges, as well as in overgrown plantations and gardens. Loud, variable song is a cheery and repetitive stream of various notes, including musical “chew” notes and rougher scolds and rattles. Crest is short and weak, separating it from White-throated and Ochraceous Bulbuls. Brown cap and duller underparts separate this species from Yellow-bellied Bulbul.

Males are bright yellow overall save for the black wings and inner tail feathers. Note the yellow patch on the wings, the yellow outer tail feathers, the black stripe through the eye that gives it a masked appearance, and the fleshy pink bill. The female is dull greenish-yellow overall with dirty brown/green wings and a completely yellowish tail. Both males and females have red iris. Most often found feeding in tree canopies either singly or in pairs. They generally give a harsh “krrrrrrrrrrrr” call while feeding. In flight, note its characteristic dipping flight style.