Striped Pipit

Found in North Africa and the Canary Islands in woodlands and gardens. More intense indigo-blue on the back and crown than Eurasian Blue Tit without green tones and with a narrower pale eyestripe. Some subspecies lack the white wingbar. Varied repertoire of calls and extensive song variation between island subspecies.

A rather long-tailed and long-winged bird with a short stubby head, similar in proportions to a small cuckooshrike. Has a black crown, eye-stripe, back, and tail with a prominent white eyebrow, wide white wingbar, and white underside often barred brown or gray. Female is similar, but rusty-brown instead of black. Common in most habitats, including urban gardens. Similar to Long-tailed Triller, but separated by white eyebrow, underside barring, and wing pattern. Common calls include a loud, tacking “tchick” and a ringing “pee-chew.”

Male is a fairly distinctive seedeater with yellow belly (sometimes very pale), dark breast and face, and brownish-olive back. Often shows some smudgy dark marks down the flanks. Bill is pale silvery. Female seedeaters are extremely difficult to identify; Yellow-bellied tends to look warmer with yellowish tones on underparts, but many are best left unidentified unless accompanied by a male. Most often found in flocks or pairs in open grassy habitats, sometimes near the edge of forest but also in agricultural areas.