Crested Jayshrike

Dull brownish seedeater with a pale eyebrow and underparts. Found in woodland, scrub, and fynbos. Often in small flocks. Call is a whistled “tsee-weet”. Song is a cheerful and energetic mix of repeated notes. Similar to White-throated Canary but shows a long white eyebrow and a brown rather than yellowish rump. Also similar to Black-eared Seedeater but has a browner back, more subdued black ear markings, and less streaking on the breast.

Fairly large, long-tailed bright green parakeet of the island of Mauritius. Males have a red bill, a black chin, and a pink-and-black collar. Females are duller, with a black bill. Endangered; found locally in and around remnant patches of humid forest. The call is a honking, nasal “kraa” that is usually repeated in quick sequence, lower-pitched than the typical high-pitched shrieks of Rose-ringed Parakeet. Very similar in appearance to that species, but separated by vocalizations, richer green overall plumage, and shorter and broader wings; females are easily separated by their black rather than red bills.   

A small dark starling of dry country. The upperparts are iridescent, with a blue sheen on the head and green on most of the wing. Also note the chestnut underparts and the yellow-orange eye. Found in dry thorn savanna and thorn scrub, usually in small wandering flocks, often with other species of starlings. Similar to Hildebrandt’s Starling, but slightly smaller and darker overall, with a deeper rufous belly and a less contrasting green wing. Also reminiscent of Superb Starling, but doesn’t have a white chest band. Gives mewing calls, often in a long, continuous series.