Ferruginous Partridge

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.

A robust, elongated thrush-like lark with a striking rufous rump and outer tail, dark brown upperparts that are lightly scaled, heavily streaked pale underparts, and a boldly marked face. Female has more rufous on the wings. Juvenile is paler with heavily scaled upperparts. Pairs breed from October to April in open broadleaf woodland in a narrow latitudinal band in central Africa, often in recently burnt areas. Small post-breeding flocks disperse north and occupy arid savanna, fields, and other suitable habitat in an unpredictable manner. Pairs or loose flocks walk on the ground foraging for insects and seeds; hundreds may gather in burnt areas. Song, in aerial display, is a whistling “tseeeo-tseeeo.” 

Drab, pale-gray flycatcher with little plumage contrast; very similar to other flycatchers, especially Dusky and Hammond's. Often best identified by unique habit of wagging tail downward. Breeding habitat also distinctive: lower, more open habitat than other flycatchers, usually in sagebrush or open juniper forest. In migration and winter, habitat overlaps more with other flycatchers, but still tends to prefer more open areas. Other subtle differences in appearance include shorter wingtips, longer bill, and paler plumage. Song includes hoarse "chivik" phrase and higher, clearer "pseeoo." Call similar to Dusky. Without an excellent view, sometimes best left unidentified.