Karoo Bustard

Heterotetrax vigorsii

A medium-sized, drab, gray-brown bustard with a plain face and black throat patch. Creamy wing patches are displayed in flight. Small groups prefer semi-arid Karoo and barren farmland, where they feed on plants and small animals. During the heat of the day it retreats to drainage lines, where they shelter under thicker cover. Often first detected by its dry, throaty, frog-like two-or-three-syllabled “kraak-krook” or “kraak-krook-kook” calls, which are sometimes echoed by other group members, creating a choral cacophony. Vocal in the morning and late afternoon.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Heterotetrax vigorsii
Authority
(Smith, A, 1831)
Order
Pterocliformes
Family
Phasianidae
Genus
Heterotetrax

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
rising

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Pine Warbler

Pine Warbler

Setophaga pinus

A medium-sized, rather robust and long-tailed warbler, with a noticeably stout bill. Variable plumage, from bright adult males with extensive yellow throat to extremely dull grayish-brown immature females. Always look for two white wingbars, diffuse streaking on the sides of the breast, large bill, and long narrow tail with a shallow notch. Well-named: almost always found in pine trees throughout the year. In spring and summer, listen for loud musical trill (compare with Chipping Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco). Occasionally visits feeders, especially for suet. A short-distance migrant, wintering entirely in the United States.

Mayotte Sunbird

Mayotte Sunbird

Cinnyris coquerellii

A small sunbird with a relatively short, slightly downcurved bill. Males are a beautiful mix of green, purple, red, and yellow. Females are fairly drab, with a dark-streaked pale breast and a yellow belly. Found in all habitats on the island of Mayotte, though most common in scrubby habitat rather than in forest. In its small range, it is the only sunbird, so it is easily identified by its bill shape. The song is a typical sunbird jumble of high-pitched notes, and the call is a rising whine. 

Green-tailed Bristlebill

Green-tailed Bristlebill

Bleda eximius

An unusual and colorful rainforest bulbul. The upperparts are dark olive-green and the underparts yellow. There are yellow spots at the corners of the tail and blue bare skin above the eye. Found in the understory of rainforest and lush secondary habitat. Sometimes joins mixed flocks and follows ant swarms. The calls are chirpy notes typical of bulbuls. Similar to Gray-headed Bristlebill, but separated by the olive-green rather than gray head, as well as the blue bare skin above the eye. Also similar to Red-tailed Bristlebill, but easily separated by the green tail. The song is a series of melancholy whistles which usually descend, and which are very similar to some vocalizations of Red-tailed Bristlebill. 

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