Plain Sunbird

Relatively colorful, mid-sized, long-tailed cisticola. Note the gray-brown back with thick black streaks, dull rufous on the wing and cap, and pale underparts. Found in reedbeds, especially papyrus and phragmites. The distinctive song is a few hesitant “chyep” calls followed by a long, dry trill. Very similar to Luapula Cisticola, and best separated by song. Visually, Chirping Cisticola is slightly larger, the tail is browner, and the rufous crown and wing patch are duller.

Small bicolored sandpiper which often bobs its tail in a distinctively wagtail-like manner. Plain brown with white underparts; distinguished from bulkier and rounder-headed Green Sandpiper by a prominent white spur at the shoulder. Found in a variety of wetland habitats; breeds on stony ground along rivers and lakeshores, with migrants occurring on muddy and rocky substrates from concrete canal banks to channels in tidal mudflats. Mainly found as singles or in small groups, not in flocks or mixed with other species.

Small and colorful francolin. Males and females are similar, but males have richer coloration, with a streaked breast, while females have a lightly barred breast. There is some geographical variation; the southern birds have much more rufous on the breast. Found on the ground in savanna and woodland habitats with thick grass. Generally shy and retiring, preferring to run away rather than flush. Gives two distinctive calls: a repeated “chur-di” and a short series of cackling notes. Female similar to female Coqui and Schlegel’s Francolins, but distinguished by many details of the head and breast pattern, and in flight by the rufous wings. Smaller than most other francolins, and bigger than quail and buttonquail.