Zanzibar Red Bishop

Euplectes nigroventris

Breeding males are spectacular birds with completely black underparts and mostly orange-red upperparts. Females and non-breeding males are brown and streaky. Breeds in moist areas including marshes, flooded grassland, and cultivated areas. Non-breeding flocks are found in many open habitats, and often mix with other species. The song is long and rattling, and the typical calls are rough “tek” notes. Breeding males are easily identified by their completely black underparts. Non-breeding males and females are very similar to other bishops, but are smaller than most other bishops, and lack the prominent yellow edges to the wing feathers of Fire-fronted Bishop.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Euplectes nigroventris
Authority
Cassin, 1848
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Ploceidae
Genus
Euplectes

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Burmese Collared-Dove

Burmese Collared-Dove

Streptopelia xanthocycla

Large, pale dove of dry, open country and cultivation in the lowlands. Pale gray head, darker on the back, pinkish-gray chest, black crescent on the nape, fairly long tail with white corners and a distinctive pale yellow eye-ring. Typically seen in pairs or small loose groups. Most similar to female Red Collared-Dove but noticeably larger and longer-tailed. Call is a cooing “woop-WOOO!-woop”.

Sand-colored Nighthawk

Sand-colored Nighthawk

Chordeiles rupestris

Light-colored nighthawk of Amazonian rivers. Tan with fine patterning and largely white underparts. Appears evenly tan when perched, blending in with the beach or branch it is perched on; in flight, broad white wing stripe and white breast and belly contrast highly with black areas. Roosts on beaches and exposed branches and logs along rivers, foraging for insects low over beaches and rivers and sometimes higher in the sky, usually at dusk. Often roosts and forages in large flocks, occasionally upwards of 100 individuals. Similar only to Nacunda Nighthawk, which is much larger with broader wing tips, and a distinct white wing band on each wing contrasting with black wing tip (not a large wedge of white as in Sand-colored).

Pechora Pipit

Pechora Pipit

Anthus gustavi

Small, graceful ground-dwelling songbird of open areas with patches of low shrubby cover. Strongly streaked overall with a warm brown back and creamy underparts. Noticeably smaller than Richard's and Paddyfield Pipits, slenderer in appearance than American and Red-throated. Bold black-and-white streaks on back distinguish Pechora from other species. Song is an almost insect-like hard buzzing trill with harsher nasal elements. Call is a hard “tsik.”

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Zanzibar Red Bishop | BirdLens