Jackson's Widowbird
Euplectes jacksoni
A medium-sized dark widowbird. Breeding males are unmistakable, with a long downcurved tail and rufous shoulders. Non-breeding males lose their long tail and become streaky and brown, but keep the shoulder pattern. Females are brown and streaky year-round. Breeds in montane grassland, but sometimes found in cultivation and other open habitats. Otherwise usually in flocks, especially when not breeding. Males give an odd display in which they jump straight into the air. Females could be confused with many other species, but even during the non-breeding season are usually associated with males, which can be identified by their shoulder pattern. Non-breeding males could be confused with non-breeding male Fan-tailed Widowbird, but have a more restricted and less orange shoulder patch. The main vocalization is a dry “zrit.”
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Euplectes jacksoni
- Authority
- (Sharpe, 1891)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Genus
- Euplectes
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Middle American Screech-Owl
Megascops guatemalae
Small, cryptically patterned, yellow-eyed owl of tropical lowland forest from Mexico to Panama. Tends to stay well hidden in the understory. Cannot be identified readily by sight, but it is the only screech-owl throughout most of its range and within its habitat. Song is a purring trill that can easily be mistaken for the purring of a toad or insect. Plumage varies from grayish brown overall to reddish.
Ethiopian Cisticola
Cisticola lugubris
A relatively colorful, mid-sized, long-tailed cisticola. Note the gray-brown back with thick black streaks, the rufous on the wing and cap, and the whitish underparts. Tail is slightly longer in non-breeding plumage. Found in wetlands, moist grassland, and scrub. Similar to Stout Cisticola, but has a slimmer bill, longer tail, and brighter rufous wing panel. The vocalizations are quick bursts of rough calls, usually followed by the dry, trilling song.
Little Sunangel
Heliangelus micraster
Unmistakable; the only hummingbird within its limited range that has an orange throat patch. Otherwise dark emerald-green overall with a rather short, straight bill. Males and females are similar, but females have a smaller throat patch and a dingier grayish belly. Occurs on the east slope of the Andes from southern Ecuador to northern Peru from around 2,400 to 3,100 m. Visits feeders, but also can be found in the middle levels of temperate forest and edges.
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