Black-thighed Puffleg

A bulky roller that is mostly dull purple-cinnamon in color; it is flecked with many fine white streaks and has a bold white eyebrow. It exposes colorful blue wings and tail while performing an acrobatic rolling flight display. Singles and pairs sit conspicuously in open savanna, preferring thornveld and drier woodlands. It perches on exposed snags and swoops to the ground to hunt large invertebrates and small vertebrates. A partial resident, it also enganges in complicated seasonal movements in parts of its range. The similarly-plumaged Broad-billed Roller is smaller, has a bright yellow (not dark) bill, and prefers moister habitats.

Typical “rufous sparrow”, with a striped back and a gray crown, nape, and rump. Males have a black bib, and are brighter overall, with more rufous on the face and shoulder. Endemic to the island of Socotra, where it inhabits a range of habitats including rocky areas, dry woodland, scrub, and human settlements. The call is a cheerful “chirp”, often given in a slow series, similar to other sparrows. Similar to Abd al Kuri Sparrow, but separated by range.

Small, chickenlike dweller of dense forests and tangled edges. Dark brown above, with orange head and breast and black-and-white-striped sides. Juvenile similar but with brown head and breast, narrower white stripes below. Dark lead-gray legs distinguish this species from Red-legged, Band-bellied, and Ruddy-breasted crakes, which also show different underpart patterns. Sings at night from favored tree perches, a series of doubled hoots that recall Mountain Scops-Owl.