Black-and-rufous Swallow

Hirundo nigrorufa

A small, gorgeous swallow with blue-black upperparts, rump, and face, and uniform rich rufous chin, throat and underparts. In flight the underwing coverts are rufous. The juvenile is duller than the adult. Singles or pairs are scarce in grassland and savanna, often associated with the edges of swamps, rivers and partially flooded areas. Similar Red-throated Swallow has a reddish rump and is less rufous below than the much more neatly-plumaged Black-and-Rufous Swallow; other similar swallows are larger with longer tails, red rumps and paler underwing coverts.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Hirundo nigrorufa
Authority
Barboza du Bocage, 1877
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Hirundinidae
Genus
Hirundo

Range and habitat

It inhabits the miombo ecosystems of Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia.

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Hartert's Camaroptera

Hartert's Camaroptera

Camaroptera harterti

A small, chunky, wren-like understory warbler that often leans forward and cocks its short tail. This species has brown eyes, olive-green wings and tail, and white underparts. Found in evergreen forest understory, plantation, and thickets along the Angolan escarpment. Usually in pairs, hopping about, often low to the ground, searching for small insects. The two common vocalizations are a nasal “meehrrp” alarm call and a strident repeated snapping “strik-strik-strik-strik-strik” song. Very similar to Green-backed Camaroptera, but tail is brighter green, rather than gray or gray-green, and underparts are cleaner white, rather than grayish, especially on the breast. 

White-browed Hawk

White-browed Hawk

Leucopternis kuhli

Compact, black-and-white forest hawk. Short tail and broad wings give it a chunkier appearance than other interior forest raptors like forest-falcons and hawks in the genus Accipiter. White below, black above, with a white eyebrow. Has a darker black-streaked head and more noticeable white eyebrows than the similar Black-faced Hawk, which has a white head with a small black mask. Found singly or in pairs in the midstory and canopy of mature rainforest.

Black-throated Magpie-Jay

Black-throated Magpie-Jay

Cyanocorax colliei

Spectacular, large, and very long-tailed jay of tropical lowland forest, plantations, and semiopen areas with hedges and tall trees; ranges from humid to fairly dry areas. Range not known to overlap with smaller White-throated Magpie-Jay. Usually in small groups and can be surprisingly inconspicuous if feeding quietly. At other times, unavoidably noisy and impossible to overlook. No similar species in range: note crest, black face and throat, and very long, white-edged tail that flows out behind in flight.

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