Huambo Cisticola

Large but rather plain flycatcher of semiopen and open scrubby habitats, matorral, lighter woodlands, and hedges in drier farmland of lowlands and foothills. Generally scarce and local. Perches prominently atop cacti, bushes, and wires. Runs well on the ground, chasing down small lizards and other prey. Distinguished by overall drab plumage with pale rusty vent, blackish tail, and stout bill. Most likely to be mistaken for Austral Thrush, which is similar in size and plumage tones, but has a bright yellow bill.

Tiny bird, more slender than other waxbills, olive brown above, blackish with white-spotted flanks below. Male with bright red face, female with red around eye. Cherry red rump obvious in flight. Found in arid inland Australia, in rocky gorges and hills with water nearby.

A chunky bird with a notably thick bill. Shows lots of geographical variation. For example, birds in some areas are grayish with a black bill, pale face, and dull cinnamon wash below; in other areas birds are dark brown on the upperparts and rich rufous below with a pale bill. Found at low and middle elevations in a variety of humid forest, including secondary forest, swamp forest, and mangroves. Rich, melodious, variable song consists of several penetrating whistles, generally in an up-and-down pattern, often ending with one or more exuberant upslurred notes. Calls include “chek” and “whit” notes. Somewhat similar to Rusty Pitohui, but smaller, with a dark rather than pale eye. Similar in size and shape to Sooty Shrikethrush and Black Pitohui, but never as uniformly dark. Also similar to Gray Shrikethrush, but smaller and browner, with some breast streaking.