Olive Bushshrike

Medium-sized brown seedeater. Note the boldly marked face with a streaked crown, white eyebrow, and broad dark brown patch through the eye; also note pale streaks on breast. Found in woodland habitats including miombo. Gives a pretty, musical up-and-down song of whistles and trills. The call is a harsh “chu-wee-uu.” Similar to Black-eared Seedeater, but the ear markings are dark brown rather than black.

This all-black bird has a long, slim bill, and a fairly long tail. In flight, white bars across the wings are revealed. Birds in the eastern part of the range also have white in the outer tail, while the western birds have all-black tails. Found in a variety of savanna habitats. The call is a series of fluted, rising “wheet” notes; similar to Common Scimitarbill, but higher-pitched. Also similar in appearance to Common Scimitarbill, but there is little overlap in range, and Black is separated by its straighter bill and slightly shorter and less pointed tail. Separated from woodhoopoes by its shorter, less floppy, and squarer tail.

A fairly small bird of forest from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains. Olive-green on the head, back, wings, and tail. Gray on the chest with a slightly streaked throat, a whitish belly, and pale yellow under the base of the tail. Note the fairly thick bill. Similar to Ashy-breasted Flycatcher, but smaller, with a thicker bill. Song is a typical whistler-like melody including some explosive, upslurred “whip!” or downslurred “piuu!” notes.