Blue-throated Brown Sunbird

A rusty-brown bird with very heavily streaked upperparts. It has a short crest, paler underparts, and strong streaks that run down the breast. Similar to Crested Lark, but the Malabar Lark is smaller, has a shorter and straighter bill, and is generally darker. Similar to Tawny Lark as well, but slightly larger, with a slimmer bill, and more heavily marked. Inhabits grassy areas, rocky areas, and fields. Forages lazily, and often flocks outside the breeding season. Calls and songs consist of pleasant series of variable short whistles. 

A rare, powerful raptor of hill and montane forest edge and clearings. Black upperparts and white underparts with fine black barring on the flanks. Yellow legs, eyes and base to the bill. Takes a variety of prey by swooping down on them in flight, especially pigeons. Adult common morph unlikely to be confused with any other montane species, but rare black morph very similar to black morph Chestnut-shouldered Goshawk and juvenile similar to the species too, although Meyer’s Goshawk has a dark eye rather than a yellow eye. Call described as a series of loud upslurred screeches.

A medium-sized iridescent blue-green glossy starling with a dark ear-patch and contrasting royal blue to violet flanks and belly. Pairs and small groups occupy savanna, where they feed on the ground and in trees on fruit and insects; occasionally up to 300 may gather at fruiting trees. Often the species scavenges from people. It gives a cat-like nasal “squuee-aar” contact call that is distinctive. The similar Lesser Blue-eared Starling differs from Greater Blue-eared Starling by being smaller with a more compact head and finer bill, by having a smaller ear-patch, and by preferring broadleaf woodland. The Cape Starling differs from the “blue-eared” starlings by having greener ear-patches, belly, and flanks.