White-tailed Alethe

Beautiful, glossy green-and-purple starling. There is a stripe through the eye that sometimes looks black and sometimes deep purple. Juveniles in the northern part of the range have a brown head and underparts, while southern juveniles have distinctive rufous underparts. In the south, found in broadleaf woodland, mainly miombo. In the north, uses a variety of savanna, brush, and woodland habitats. The song is a complex, chattering series, and the call is a vibrant rising note, which is often incorporated into the song. Very similar to Greater Blue-eared Starling, but smaller and shorter-tailed, with a thinner stripe through the eye. Also similar to Cape Starling, but has a dark eye-stripe and a purple belly, and is usually found in different habitat.

Small drongo with a moderately notched tail. Found in open forest, thick woodland, and thickets. Not as bold or conspicuous as the common Fork-tailed Drongo. Often in pairs. Similar to Velvet-mantled and Fork-tailed Drongos, but smaller, with a less forked tail. Very similar to Shining Drongo, but Sharpe’s has less glossy plumage, a redder eye, and a more noticeably forked tail, and prefers drier habitats. Also similar to Square-tailed Drongo, but separated by range. Distinguished from black-flycatchers by heavier bill and red eye. Upright posture is unlike other all-black mid-sized birds. Song is an explosive and highly variable mix of whistles, squeals, and rasps, often delivered simultaneously by a pair.

This small warbler-like bird is unremarkable in appearance, but surely not the plainest of the white-eyes; look for a pale eye with a very narrow white eyering, grayish upperparts, and contrasting pale yellow throat. Endemic to the island of Yap, in the Western Caroline Islands of Micronesia, where it inhabits a wide range of forested and brushy habitats. The only other white-eye on the island, Yap White-eye, is dark olive-brown overall and has a much more prominent eyering. Forages actively in flocks. Gives high-pitched, scratchy trills and chirrups, comparable to parakeet and sparrow calls.