Red-tailed Ant-Thrush

A small bird of montane forest edge and villages. Whitish underparts, dark brown back, warmer brown on the head, extending to the sides of the chest. Note the broken white eye-ring and white band in the outer tail feathers. Forages very actively in small groups, twitching its tail. Co-occurs with the similar Gray Thornbill and their vocalizations are also similar, but Brown-backed Gerygone is distinctly brown rather than gray. Song, a series 5 or more slurred notes of the same pitch, descending slightly each time. Call, an excited chatter.

Slender pale sandpiper with a fine, needle-like bill. Note the overall slim and elegant shape, with very long and slender greenish legs: suggests a much smaller Greenshank that’s been to ballet school. In flight appears dark above with broad white stripe up middle of back; long legs project well past tail tip. Usually found singly or mixed in with other waders in varied fresh to brackish wetland habitats, usually with open water. Feeds by wading in water, picking with its bill. Repetitive mellow calls somewhat similar to Greenshank, but rather monotone and with a sharper quality.

A fairly small and slim weaver with a relatively slender bill. Breeding male is distinctive, with bright yellow overall plumage and a black-and-chestnut bib. Females and non-breeding males are much duller, but show streaking on the back and usually a pale base to the dark bill. Found in a small range in central Tanzania, in reedbeds along rivers, often in flocks. Nests colonially. Plumages other than the breeding male’s can be hard to separate from other weavers, especially Vitelline Masked-Weaver, but can be cautiously identified by their dark back, by their less yellow overall coloration, and by range. Vocalizations are typical of weavers: “chek” notes and a sizzling “radio static” song.