White-shouldered Black-Tit
Melaniparus guineensis
A black tit with a mostly white wing and white outer tail. The eyes are yellow. Found in rather moist types of savanna, both broadleaf and thorny, usually in pairs or small groups that are loud and conspicuous. Very similar to White-winged Black-Tit, and best separated by the yellow rather than dark eyes. Immatures can have dark eyes, but are usually associated with adults. Call is a classic tit “chee-chi-chi-chi-chi,” raspy and often repeated. The song usually consists of whistled phrases of 3-4 syllables repeated 2-3 times in a row; some songs are longer, without repetition, or contain some burry notes.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Melaniparus guineensis
- Authority
- (Shelley, 1900)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Paridae
- Genus
- Melaniparus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Montserrat Oriole
Icterus oberi
A slim species of mountain forests where it feeds on insects at middle elevation. Males have a black head, chest, and back that contrast with a yellow belly and rump. Females are dull yellow-green above and dingy yellow below. Montserrat Orioles are larger than warblers, vireos, and tanagers and they have a long, relatively thick-based and sharply tipped bill. No similar species occur within its range. Vocalizations include loud whistles and harsh chrrrr-like calls.
Mosque Swallow
Cecropis senegalensis
This large swallow has rusty-red underparts, a pale buff throat, and a white leading edge to the underwing that is obvious only in flight. It is mostly resident, although it is also a wet season migrant to the north of its range. Pairs prefer wooded savanna, nesting in banks, termite mounds, and often holes in trees, particularly baobabs. The Mosque Swallow may be confused with the juvenile Rufous-chested Swallow, but it lacks the latter species’ dark “ear-flaps” and buffy forward part of the underwing.
Wedge-tailed Sabrewing
Pampa curvipennis
Very large but rather drab hummingbird of tropical lowland forest and edge. Feeds low to high, usually at edges. Note the long graduated tail and the pale gray face and underparts with a whitish spot behind the eyes. Male has longer tail than female; female has narrow whitish tail tips. Violet-blue crown rarely catches the light. Loud and complex song can attract attention, given from mid-level perch, often on vines.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.