Marsh Widowbird
Euplectes hartlaubi
Breeding males are mostly black with a long tail. Varies geographically, with northern birds having a shorter tail and mainly orange shoulder patch, while southern birds have a longer tail and a yellow-and-orange shoulder patch. Females and non-breeding males are streaky and brown, though males retain their colorful shoulder. Breeds in marsh habitats, and uses a variety of open habitats in non-breeding season. Vocalizations include low rasps and twittering and sizzling calls. Northern breeding males similar to Fan-tailed Widowbird, but longer-tailed. Female can be confused with several other species, but is usually identified by association with orange-shouldered males.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Euplectes hartlaubi
- Authority
- (Barboza du Bocage, 1878)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Ploceidae
- Genus
- Euplectes
Range and habitat
It is found in Angola, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Yellow Canary
Crithagra flaviventris
A large canary with different-looking males and females. The male has bright yellow underparts, yellow-green upperparts, and a well-marked face pattern. The female is drab gray-brown with streaky underparts, yellowish edges of the wing feathers, and a yellow rump. Pairs and small groups occupy dry rangelands including coastal scrub, Karoo, and arid thornveld, where they are resident and nomadic, moving when food becomes scarce. The larger Brimstone Canary has a chunkier bill than Yellow Canary and prefers moist coastal thickets and woodland.

Red-billed Tyrannulet
Zimmerius cinereicapilla
Small and rather scarce flycatcher found in disturbed forest on the east slope of the Andes. Yellowish-olive with a gray head and pale throat. Combination of stubby, reddish bill, pale iris, and yellow edges to wing feathers that do not form distinct wingbars help separate it from other small flycatchers. Overlaps with the very similar Mishana Tyrannulet in northern Peru, but Red-billed has a gray (not olive) crown and a different voice. Calls include soft whistles and squeaks, given alone or in a quick series. Typically seen perched high in a tree in a clearing or at forest edge.

White-throated Rock-Thrush
Monticola gularis
Uncommon throughout most of its range, this elusive rock thrush breeds in rocky hill forest in northeastern China and Russia and migrates down the East Asian coast to winter in southern China and mainland Southeast Asia. Beautiful and distinctive male has a blue crown, orange underparts, and black wings marked with a bright white patch; small white patch on throat is not obvious and difficult to see. Female is brown with scaly markings on her back and breast; she lacks a pale crescent behind the eye. Usually stays low in shrubbery, but male will sing from an exposed perch.
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