Channel-billed Toucan

Unusual gray turaco with a long tail and bushy crest. White bars in the outer wing are conspicuous in floppy flight. Found in savanna, woodland, shrubby cultivation, and gardens. Usually in small groups. Loud and vocal. The call is a series of yelps that accelerate and become louder, usually given in a wild duet or chorus. Very similar to Eastern Plantain-eater, but there is very little overlap in range; Western can be distinguished by the lack of white in the tail and the black-spotted rather than barred back. 

Adult male is coal-black in worn plumage--unique amongst larks; in fresh plumage blackish feathers are edged in pale scaling. Female is duller and less distinctive: streaky gray-brown overall with a paler throat and belly and a stoutly pointed pinkish bill. Found in grassy steppe, particularly in areas interspersed with scattered shrubbery or wet patches; generally does not use agricultural lands, but can be found in association with domesticated livestock in the winter. Forages on the ground and flocks during colder months. Song is a long-winded series of drawn-out whistles, warbles, and chatters. Calls include various buzzy and squeaky notes.

A medium-sized blue-and-white kingfisher with a big, heavy black bill. Bluish-green upperparts and chest band contrast with creamy white underparts and white neck patch. Tail and rump lighter blue. Found along slow-flowing lowland rivers. Common Kingfisher is smaller, with orange underparts, and Little Kingfisher is much smaller with a comparatively thinner, weaker bill. Bismarck is told from dwarf kingfishers by larger size, heavier bill, and plain blue upperparts not flecked white. Told from all other blue-and-white kingfishers by blue hindneck and lack of black mask. Call is a loud whistle, stronger and less hissing than Common Kingfisher’s.