Shelley's Greenbul
Arizelocichla masukuensis
Fairly small, dark, inconspicuous greenbul. The birds in Kenya and along the Albertine Rift have a gray crown, whereas the ones in central Tanzania and Malawi are uniformly olive-green. Found in the mid-story of montane forest. The western subspecies is known for its distinctive habit of creeping along branches like a woodpecker. Easily confused with other greenbuls, but slightly smaller and slimmer than other species in its range. Tree-creeping habits are distinctive when observed.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Arizelocichla masukuensis
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pycnonotidae
- Genus
- Arizelocichla
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Yellow-backed Oriole
Icterus chrysater
Attractive black-and-yellow oriole. Mainly in pine-oak forest of highlands, but also in humid tropical lowlands of Yucatan Peninsula. Often in flowering trees with other species of orioles. Both sexes have a yellow head and body with a small black mask and throat patch, black wings and tail. Bill is straight and pointed. Richly whistled and slightly halting song carries well.

Santa Marta Sabrewing
Campylopterus phainopeplus
Rare hummingbird endemic to Colombia’s Santa Marta Mountains. Male is green with a blue throat, and female is green above and mostly white below. Both sexes have a white spot behind the eye and lack copper in the tail. Male could be confused with male Lazuline Sabrewing or Black-throated Mango, whose coppery tails are not always evident. Female is similar to female White-vented Plumeleteer, but has a more conspicuous eye spot and less white on the tail tip. Poorly known and rarely seen in the areas typically visited by birders.

Gray-breasted Spiderhunter
Arachnothera modesta
Olive-yellow above with a streaked gray breast and belly. Fainter streaking that does not reach all the way to the vent, a paler belly, and a longer, more decurved bill distinguish it from slightly larger Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter. Forages actively at low and middle levels of lowland and hill forest. Produces a squeaky “tshe-yee tshe-yee!”, like wet shoes squeaking on a smooth surface.
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