Cuban Vireo

Dark brown sandpiper with a snowy white belly; in flight looks black above with boldly contrasting white rump. Bobs tail when nervous, but not habitually like Common Sandpiper. Often climbs steeply when flushed and flies quickly with deep wingbeats, swooping around a little like a swallow. Breeds in clearings and marshes in wet forest and woodland; migrants occur in fresh and brackish wetland habitats, especially on muddy shores of lakes and small ponds. Mainly found as singles or small groups, not mixed with other species.

This red-eyed masked-weaver has a plain olive-green back and pink-brown legs. The breeding male has a black face mask, with the black band on the forehead above the bill varying from broad in the south to narrow farther north. Female and juvenile are dull and inseparable from other masked-weavers. Pairs and colonies are localized residents of reedbeds, wetlands and adjacent woodland, in a narrow global range between northeastern Zambia and southeastern DRC. The breeding males of Katanga and Southern masked-weavers are very similar, but the former are smaller, have some saffron around the masks, and have darker green backs and rumps; breeding male Tanganyika and Lake Lufira Masked-Weavers have more burnt-orange around the face and underparts, and ranges do not overlap.

Small, nondescript flycatcher of lowland forest. Generally green above and pale yellow below; whitish eye color is often not visible under field conditions. Best identified by call, as it is usually heard before being seen. Sits still in mid-story of tall forest, darting up to foliage for insects; does not typically follow mixed-species flocks. Similar to various pygmy-tyrants in general appearance and behavior but lacks crest and has different vocalizations. Song a series of 3–10 sharp notes on one pitch or slightly descending, frog- or insect-like in quality, with some geographic variation.