Yellow-crowned Elaenia
Myiopagis flavivertex
Small, inconspicuous bird of coastal swamps and seasonally inundated forests. Yellow crown is essentially impossible to see under most viewing conditions; note dull overall appearance, indistinct wing bars, and longish tail. Inhabits upper levels of tall forest; also occurs in abandoned plantations and other disturbed habitats, where it may be found closer to the ground. Feeds on insects and fruit. Most similar to Greenish Elaenia but has more prominent wing bars; Forest Elaenia is more clean-cut, with a stronger facial pattern and white crown patch. Explosive song is a decelerating cackle; it is distinctive once learned and usually the most reliable indicator of this species’s presence.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Myiopagis flavivertex
- Authority
- (Sclater, PL, 1887)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Myiopagis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Mountain Yellow-Warbler
Iduna similis
Medium-sized, long-tailed, long-billed warbler. The back is olive-green and the underparts yellow. Found in montane habitats including bamboo, moist scrub, and forest edge. An active and energetic bird of the undergrowth. The distinctive song is an exuberant mix of downslurred and upslurred whistles and low rattles. Similar to African Yellow-Warbler, but in the areas where they overlap, mostly found at higher elevations, and distinguished by the olive-green, not black cap.

Marabou Stork
Leptoptilos crumenifer
This huge, macabre-looking stork has a massive dagger-like bill and naked pink head and neck that appear severely sunburned. A white ruff and loose inflatable skin on the neck add to its odd appearance. It soars effortlessly at great heights searching for food; note its white belly in flight. Marabous are equally content in wetlands or in dry bush; they are most frequently encountered lurking near carrion, as they attend kills of major predators and will opportunistically snatch scraps. They also readily scavenge around humans and waste dumps.

Jos Plateau Indigobird
Vidua maryae
A nest parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of Rock Firefinches. Breeding males are black with green iridescence and a pale brownish panel in the wings. Females and non-breeding males are streaky and brown on the back and pale below, with a bold facial pattern. The bill is whitish and the legs pale purple. A scarce, local, and poorly known species. Found in rocky areas within savanna. Given current knowledge, can only be confidently identified by vocalizations. Imitates the vocalizations of its host, Rock Firefinch, including soft “teew” whistles, a descending trill, “tep” notes, and “pit-pit-pit” calls. These are often mixed into a scratchy jumble of high-pitched notes.
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