Bannerman's Weaver

A small swallow with blue upperparts, chestnut forecrown, and throat with a narrow incomplete dark breast band and gray underparts. Singles, pairs and groups are residents and intra-African migrants to open grassland, cultivation, and wetland fringes. Barn Swallow is similar to Angola but is larger with much longer outer tail feathers, broader complete breast band and white underparts; Ethiopian Swallow has buff (not chestnut) throat and white (not gray) underparts. Vocalizations include typically swallow-like weak twitters.

Fairly common, but often retiring, in tropical lowlands of both drier and more humid areas in northern South America. Occurs from sea level to around 1,500 m elevation. Favors forest edge, second growth thickets, hedges, and tangles, especially with morning glory flowers, which it munches quietly. Note plain grayish coloration with browner vent and short white eyebrow. Despite the common name, adults have at best only a slight olivaceous tinge. Immature looks slightly different, with a yellowish wash to the face and upperparts. Listen for sweet song of short whistled phrases.

Breeding males are entirely blue with a slightly darker head. Females are plain brown with a whitish throat, bluish tail, and faint streaks on the underparts. Breeds in shrubby areas at the edge of forests and fields. Males often sing from a high exposed perch. Winters mainly in Middle America and the Caribbean, where it frequently gathers in flocks in weedy fields. Females can be very difficult to distinguish from Lazuli Bunting, although their range doesn't overlap much. Indigo usually shows more streaking on the underparts; also note fainter wingbars, duller breast, and more contrasting whitish throat.