Abyssinian Sunbird

Large-headed falcon with variable brownish plumage ranging from dark chocolate brown, to reddish, to tan. All have a dark moustache mark, long unfeathered lower legs, and a finely barred tail. Take care to identify dark birds from Black Falcon, which has feathered legs, and a more angular heavy-shouldered appearance. When gliding holds its wingtips up. Common resident in rural areas, often perches on power lines, fence posts. Populations tend to move when food and water is scarce.

The most numerous small parrot in the tepui highlands. Plumage entirely green with somewhat darker wings and a distinctive pale crescent below eye. Inhabits humid forest at upper elevations, but occasionally wanders as low as 300 m. Forages in forest canopy and up to limit of vegetation on tepui slopes, feeding on fruit and flowers, but usually seen only in flight. May form flocks of up to several hundred individuals that commute long distances between isolated mountains; such flocks are occasionally seen high overhead in intervening lowlands. Very vocal; most typical call is a high, metallic chattering. Distinguished from Green-rumped and Dusky-billed parrotlets by lack of any blue tones in plumage, longer and bulkier shape, and more grating calls; at close range, eye crescent is diagnostic.

The equivalent of House Sparrow in dry parts of the Horn of Africa. Males have a chestnut crown and nape, a black bib, and a variable pale yellowish wash on the cheeks and underparts. Females are very dull, but usually also show a yellow wash below. Found in dry habitats including dry thorn savanna, thorn scrub, desert, and coastal cliffs, often around human habitation. Visually similar to House Sparrow, but separated by the yellow wash, and the male is further separated by the chestnut rather than gray crown. Also similar to rufous sparrows, but the male is separated from those species by his chestnut crown, and the female by her much drabber coloration. The call is a “cheep” very similar to that of House Sparrow.