Upcher's Warbler

A typical red-eyed masked-weaver with a plain olive-green back and pink-brown legs. The breeding male has a black face mask extending midway up the forehead, surrounded by a strong burnt-orange wash that spreads to the breast and flanks. Female and juvenile are duller, but their breasts are tinged orange-yellow, flanks brown, and bellies white. Pairs and colonies are localized residents of reedbeds, wetlands, and adjacent woodland, in a very narrow global range between southwestern Tanzania and the Saisi River in northeastern Zambia. The ranges of most similar masked-weavers do not overlap, but breeding male Katanga and Southern Masked-Weavers are yellower than Tanganyika, lacking chestnut tones, and breeding male Lake Lufira Masked-Weaver has black mask extending past the hind-crown, and strong chestnut underparts.

Hardly bigger than a sparrow, this odd little ground bird has a disproportionately loud song. The booming hoots the female gives during the breeding season are often the easiest way to find this species in the open grassy habitats it occupies. Females are more vividly colored than males, with a bright orange breast and nape, yellow belly, white throat, and speckled gray upperparts. Males have a faded version of the same general color scheme, but have less spotting on the breast and a tan throat.

Mid-sized diving duck. Male distinctive, with dark rusty head, pale gray body contrasting with black breast, and broad pale bluish band on bill. Female rather nondescript: gray-brown overall with diffuse pale head markings. Note sloping forehead and dark gray bill with pale band near tip. In flight grayish overall (lacks bold white wing stripe). Inhabits marshy and reed-fringed lakes to open reservoirs; locally on the sea in winter, especially when lakes freeze. Locally in flocks, and often associates with winter flocks of Tufted Ducks. Feeds mainly by diving.