Large Woodshrike

Spectacular ground-dwelling pigeon with long, extravagant plumes trailing down from the neck. Dark green intermixed with gray, blue, and bronzy orange, depending on the light. Tail is snow-white, but only readily visible when the bird is flushed. Generally shy, quiet, and difficult to see. Inhabits small, densely forested offshore islands from the Indian Andamans to the Solomons and New Guinea.

A medium-sized typical ‘double-collared’ sunbird. Larger and longer-billed than similar-plumaged Western Miombo Sunbird (and ranges hardly overlap); Eastern Miombo male has broader red breast band, darker gray belly, and less prominent yellow wingpit tufts. Female and immature have a gray-brown head, pale gray throat, and pale lemon breast and belly. Singles and pairs are residents and nomads in Miombo woodland, gallery forest, arid savanna, and other woodland. Sings a slower, louder, less rambling song than Western Miombo Sunbird that does not end in a long descending trill.

Small, remarkably nondescript cisticola. The back can be vaguely streaked in breeding plumage, and is more heavily streaked in non-breeding plumage. There are two bands across the tip of the tail, one buff and one black. Found in a variety of grassy habitats, including savanna, forest edge, woodland openings, and scrub. The song is two or three high notes in a descending series: “tsee-tree-tro.” Also gives a faster, rollicking series of many consecutive notes. Very similar to Rufous Cisticola, but generally has colder and browner coloration, and shows some streaking on the back.