Three-striped Hemispingus

A small bird with strikingly bright golden underparts and slate-gray upperparts. The small golden eyebrow reaches the eye but doesn’t extend behind it. Some birds show a golden or white forehead. Throat can be or yellow, white, or yellowish grizzled with gray. Widespread, but more common in natural habitats. Voice includes a melodious sequence of whistles, “tweet-chew-twee-titi-chew-weet.”

Typical small sparrowhawk with a gray or brown back and pale underparts. Females are much larger than males and show reddish barring below. Smaller male is pale-chested. Found in open forest, scrub, plantations, and even villages. Usually seen sitting on an open perch or dashing through the trees; rarely soars. Small, pale male is distinctive, but female and brownish immature very hard to separate from some Madagascar Sparrowhawks. On Frances’s Sparrowhawk, look for fine bars on the undertail, reddish chest barring, a single dark stripe down the center of the throat, and a short central toe. 

Active little inhabitant of coniferous and mixed forest, birch woodland, willow and alder scrub. Very similar to Marsh Tit, and often best separated by its differently whistled song (more helpful in western range than in eastern). Gives various high-pitched and scolding calls; generally narrower vocal range than Marsh Tit. Often in scrubbier habitats than Marsh Tit; sometimes visits feeders. On Willow Tit, note pale wing panel (vs. rather plain wings of Marsh), slightly larger and messier black bib, and brighter buffy flanks.