Abyssinian White-eye

Small pipit with a dark brown back and heavily streaked breast. The tail is short and edged in white; this is conspicuous in flight. Found in short grassland, including recently burned areas. Uncommon to rare throughout its range and far less conspicuous than other pipits; most often seen when flushed. The song is an alternating series of slurred notes, given in flight. Call is a quiet “sveet”. Similar to Bush Pipit, but darker, more heavily streaked below, and with a shorter tail.

Pale grayish-brown chickenlike bird, found in open spaces with mix of grasses and shrubs. Often on the ground or perched high in trees. Look for whitish tail with pointed tip, slight crest, wings spotted with white, and sparsely marked pale belly. In early spring, males gather at display site and dance to attract females: look for tail cocked up, wings held out, and purple patch of exposed skin on neck. Sexes alike. Most similar to prairie-chickens but note paler belly and pointed tail.

A spectacular cuckooshrike that resembles an oriole, with a yellow-green back, wings and tail, yellow underparts, a dark head and bill, and large fleshy orange wattles under the eyes. The sexes differ slightly: the head of the male is jet black and the female has a less contrasting brownish head. Juvenile is like the female but barred above, with a less distinct head pattern. Rare, found singly or in pairs in the canopy of primary and secondary lowland forest, often near water. Moves stealthily through the canopy, where it joins mixed-species parties; flight call is a thrush-like “tsik.” Differs from forest orioles by having a dark (not red) bill and fleshy wattles under the eyes.