Speckle-fronted Weaver
Sporopipes frontalis
A small, distinctive, sparrow-like weaver. The crown is black with white speckles, the back of the neck and collar are pale rufous, and the face shows a black moustache stripe. Found in dry or moderately moist savanna and woodland, usually in small flocks. The most common call is a short trill. The song is a pipit-like long series of rattling whistles.
Identification
The speckle-fronted weaver (Sporopipes frontalis) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is found in Africa from Mauritania and Gambia in the west to Ethiopia and Tanzania in the east. Its natural habitat is dry savanna.
Taxonomy
Genus: Sporopipes; Family: Ploceidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Sporopipes frontalis
- Authority
- (Daudin, 1800)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Genus
- Sporopipes
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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Bull-headed Shrike
Lanius bucephalus
A small, brightly colored shrike of forest edges and lightly forested fields and gardens. Adult male has pale-bordered black mask, mostly gray back and wings, blackish tail, and warm orange crown, nape, and wash on sides (worn birds less brightly colored). Female has brown back, less obvious mask, rusty crown and nape, and light barring below. Juvenile similar to adult female but lacks pale border around mask. Compared to juvenile Brown Shrike, Bull-headed has warmer orange tones, larger bill, and weaker mask. Song a harsh, raspy collection of notes (including imitations); call is a staccato chatter.

Rock Kestrel
Falco rupicolus
Typical kestrel with a rufous back and underparts, barred tail, and a dark “moustache” mark on the face. Found in a wide variety of open habitats, especially in rocky areas. Spends much of its time on the wing, often hovering. Call is a high, repeated “kreek”. Very similar to Eurasian Kestrel, but little overlap in range, and Rock Kestrel shows paler underwings. Similar to Lesser Kestrel but slightly larger. Male Rock Kestrel also separated by its lack of pale gray on the top of the wing. Female Rock Kestrel has darker rufous underparts.
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