Banded Yellow Robin

Sleek medium-sized thrush with a beautiful voice. Listen for its fluty, ethereal phrases drifting over montane forests. Sexes alike: entirely gray with black face, black wings, and orangey bill and legs. Juveniles confusingly browner and spotted, but note similar shape, small bill, and dark face. Unobtrusive and not very active; most often seen while feeding at a fruiting tree.

Chunky, medium-sized pigeon that has a green back and gray underparts. Also note the purple shoulders and the whitish bill with a red base. Flight is fast and direct. Sometimes alone, though more often in small groups. The species clambers around clumsily like a parrot but can remain well hidden. Found in the canopy of rainforest, secondary forest, and plantations. Most common at middle elevations. Voice is a quiet but maniacal combination of sputters, whistles, and cackles. Easily identified, as it is the only green pigeon on the island of Sao Tome. 

Spectacular flycatcher with a long and deeply forked tail. Grayish overall with a white throat and a black half collar that is continuous with the eye stripe. The wings are black with a cinnamon patch. Females have a slightly shorter tail. Usually found around palm groves, marshes, and grasslands near water. The call is sharp but melodic “djewp,” and during their hilarious noisy duet display, they cheerily raise and lower their head and raise their tail with wings open.