Cape Canary

A small, unusual sparrow of dry country. Males are mostly yellow with black-and-white wings and tail. In non-breeding plumage, males have a grayer back and a rufous wash on the head. Females are much plainer: buff brown on the back and pale below, with a yellow wash. Found in dry thorn savanna, thornscrub, and cultivated areas. Nests colonially, and usually found in flocks, sometimes large, and sometimes mixed with other bird species. Similar to Sudan Golden Sparrow, but virtually no overlap in range. Male is separated by its yellow rather than chestnut back, and females by being brighter and yellower, with less distinct back streaking. The common call is a rattling series of chirps. 

The only penguin regularly found within its range. A pudgy, flightless, black-and-white seabird with wings modified into flippers. Uncommon and declining, but still easily seen at well-known breeding colonies. It is extremely ungainly on land but is a supreme swimmer in the open ocean, where individuals dive down as far as 60 m in pursuit of small schooling fish. Juveniles are covered in flufflike down, and immatures have a white throat and frequently look scruffy as they molt. Call is a repeated, donkey-like braying: “haaaaaaahh, haaaaaaahh”.

Small owl with large, dark red eyes and soft ear tufts. Like many other small owls, far more often heard than seen; listen for its quiet whistled hoots, given at approximately 10-second intervals. If seen, note its pale yellow bill and very lightly-speckled underparts. Found in lowland and foothill forest.