Olive-capped Coua

Fairly large lory of lowlands and foothill forest and edge. Mainly dark plumage, with 2 obvious bands across the chest and a red bill. Coloration varies from yellow to red. In flight, bright yellow patch in the wing is highly visible. Distinctive fast and straight flight. Often seen flying high in large flocks. Somewhat similar to Black, Brown and Yellow-streaked Lories, but Dusky has a red rather than black bill and different flight. Coconut Lorikeet shows bright red in the fore wing. Very vocal. Noisy, high-pitch, ringing screeches.

Chunky, olive-backed bird. Males have a black head, multi-colored bare facial skin, and yellow underparts. Females have pale underparts with scaly markings. Madagascar endemic that is rare and local in moist patches of western deciduous forest. Found mainly in the upperstory, where it often visits flowering and fruiting trees. Sits motionless for long periods, and flies weakly. Usually alone or in pairs. Call is a quick, rising series of very high-pitched notes. Female is similar to female Velvet Asity, but is separated by range. 

Small and active little songbird of lowland and foothill areas, where it inhabits forest edge, gardens, scrubby areas, and secondary growth. Grayish overall, with an orange face, long thin bill, and frequently cocked tail. Sexes generally similar, but female has a whiter throat and is aler overall. Extremely similar to the closely related Ashy Tailorbird, but note present species’ faint olive-green wash on the upperparts and yellowish tinge to the belly. All vocalizations are very similar to those of Ashy Tailorbirds: song is a bright, wet-sounding “wee’chup!”, often given in series and duets, and calls include a high-pitched nasal bleating and rattling trills.