Fire-crested Alethe

A fine-billed finch with a notched tail. Neatly patterned mostly in gray and white, with black wings and tail and a rufous lower back and thighs. Male has a striking white eyebrow, lower cheek patch, wing notch, and rump. Female is duller, with a less striking facial pattern; juvenile is buffier and streakier. A rare resident in the hilly Daalo and Mash Caleed regions of northern Somalia, where it prefers degraded juniper forest and other woodland and scrub between 1200 and 2400 meters of elevation. Forages on the ground in pairs or small groups, and perches on exposed branches and dead trees. Sings a typical canary-like song with whistles, trills, and buzzes. Calls include a high-pitched “tsee-wit.” Streaky juvenile could be confused with a canary, but white in the wing is distinctive. 

Unmistakable orange, black, and white bird with a long crest that can be erected or flattened on the head. Shows a striking black-and-white pattern in floppy butterfly-like flight. Found throughout Madagascar in spiny forest, dry deciduous forest, scrub, and plantations at low and middle elevations. Scarce in the east and center. Feeds on the ground, usually in pairs. Nests in tree cavities. The song is a long, hollow trill. 

An unusual duck of alpine lakes and mountain streams. Very distinctive elongated shape with yellow bill, dark head, strong barring on the body and a pointy tail which is cocked when startled. In flight, it has a green panel in the wing bordered with white. It swims with a distinctive head-bobbing motion and feeds by dabbling and diving. It is a strong swimmer and can also do agile leaps onto rocks. Usually silent, but occasional gives a quack or series of “whip-whip-whip” notes.