White-vented Shama

Large brown pigeon with a long tail. Adult males have a green and purple iridescence on the head and neck. Common in rainforests where it is more often heard than seen. Feeds on fruits and seeds in forest trees, but is occasionally seen walking on the forest floor.

A large, grayish, naked-faced hawk with broad wings. The small, bare, yellow (sometimes flushed red) face, white-banded black tail, and underwing pattern distinguish it. The immature is blotchy brown with yellow-green facial skin and barred flight feathers. Harrier-hawks are specialists, foraging on eggs and nestlings, and they have double-jointed knees which allow them to access nest holes and other confined spaces. They are often seen clumsily clambering around on cliffs and trees when foraging. Although similar to chanting-goshawks, African Harrier-Hawk’s long but small angular head, broad wings, and tail pattern are diagnostic.

A small and nondescript flycatcher that is nowhere near as exciting-looking as the name suggests. Generally found in large bamboo thickets, but can also occur in other viney tangles in forest gaps and edges. Overall dingy olive upperparts and faintly streaked brownish underparts are fairly distinctive; most similar species in range are either yellower or grayer, not brownish. Most often found by its voice, a short series of hollow “pip” notes.