Crested Malimbe

This large cuckoo has two morphs: (1) entirely black except for white tips to the long tail and sometimes limited white barring elsewhere, and (2) dark-backed with a rufous chest and black-and-white-barred underparts. The latter are more frequently found in West Central Africa. It has a characteristically swerving flight. It is resident and migrant, preferring thicker woodland and forest, It produces a mournful, three-noted call “I’m so saaaaad” call, the last note rising. Similar dark-morph Jacobin and Levaillant’s cuckoos differ from Black Cuckoo in having crests and strong white flashes in the wings.

Small raptor of montane forest in the Andes from Venezuela to Argentina, with a disjunct population in southeastern South America. Adults are black with a piercing yellow eye. In flight, look for the paddle shaped wings and contrasting white underwing coverts. The tail has contrasting black and white bands. Juveniles are buffy below with messy dark markings; note the white eyebrow and overall compact shape. Singles or pairs are uncommon over forest or adjacent clearings. Typically seen soaring or occasionally perched in the canopy.

Medium-sized flycatcher commonly found in the canopy and border of forests, woodlands, savannas, and urban areas where it usually perches on exposed branches. Note the complicated head pattern with a black mask and crown, and a broad white eyebrow and mustache. The black crown also has a central yellow patch, which is often concealed. The body is streaky with a cinnamon rump and tail. Similar to Piratic flycatcher, but Variegated Flycatcher is larger and paler, with cinnamon on the tail and rump and with more boldly-marked wings. The call is nasal “pseeeu.”