Kenya Rufous Sparrow

Small and rotund with intricate scaly pattern on neck and body. Looks silvery gray and brown overall; note short “cotton-top” crest. Plain face with no black, unlike Gambel’s Quail. Look for small groups scurrying around through grasslands or under cactus and mesquite trees in desert habitats. Occurs from eastern Colorado to central Mexico. Listen for hoarse calls.

A colorful lovebird of East African savanna that is also found in woodland, cultivated areas, and around human habitation. Note the green back, the broad yellow collar, the black face, and the red bill. The flight is fast and direct, on twitching wingbeats. Often found in flocks. Similar to Fischer’s Lovebird, but easily separated by the black rather than orange head. However, hybrids showing a mix of the two species’ traits are now common, especially in Kenya and along the coast. The common calls are a scratchy “sveet” and high-pitched squeals. 

Buoyant “river tern” with dramatically different breeding and non-breeding plumages. Breeding adult is wildly conspicuous in flight, with contrasting black-and-white plumage; at rest note white shoulders contrasting with black body. Non-breeding and younger birds are white with gray patches and black “earmuffs.” In areas of overlap, juvenile told from Black Tern by dark back contrasting with lighter upperwings and white rump and by black marking above the shoulder. Non-breeding Whiskered Tern can be similar, but has a faded, patchy dark crown instead of earmuffs. Commonly found in flocks around rivers, lakes, and wetlands, where it picks food from surface instead of splash-diving; generally not as closely associated with saltwater as many typical terns.