Rufous-webbed Bush-Tyrant

Huge swift with powerful, falcon-like flight. Overall coloration is gray with a paler throat and mottling on the belly, but often looks blackish when seen in flight overhead. A darker, blackish population nests in Luanda, Angola, and wanders widely. Found over a wide variety of habitats, though often in the vicinity of rock outcroppings. Near breeding colonies, gives an exuberant trilled call. Similar in size and shape to Alpine Swift, but separated by the dark rather than white belly. Separated from all other swifts by large size.

A locally common dark swallow, frequently seen above forest or along the forest edge, occasionally in more open habitats. Fairly uniform brownish-black with a unique, faintly green gloss to its plumage. Tail is short and mostly square with a slight notch. In Central Africa, overlaps with the very similar Forest Swallow, and not all individuals can be identified with certainty in the field, but in general Square-tailed Sawwing has a more flowing, swallow-like flight, a greenish gloss to the plumage, a relatively uniform appearance, and a different voice. Calls are a series of short, high-pitched squeaks and whistles.

Distinctive small swallow with blue-black upperparts, a very large white rump patch, and snow-white underparts. Juvenile in late summer and autumn is duller above and dingier below than adult. Very similar to Asian House-Martin, but note white rump patch extending further up back, brighter white underparts, and slightly larger size. Compare also with other swallows and House Swift; note the relatively shallowly forked and streamerless tail, fluttery flight, and clean white underparts. In west of range, overlaps with very similar Western House-Martin (formerly treated as one species); note present species’ significantly larger rump patch. Breeds colonially, frequently building mud nests under the eaves of buildings; forages over varied open and semi-open habitats, especially water bodies and adjacent fields. Gives a soft burbling trill.