Varied Triller

A medium-large, highly variable eagle that can range in overall color from whitish or creamy dull rufous to grayish-brown, and rarely dark brown. It has a moderately long gape line that stops at the center of the eye and slit-shaped nostrils. Legs are short and heavily feathered, with baggy “trousers.” Juveniles are generally paler than adults, while older immatures can have a dark hood and pale body. Mostly a bird of plains and open scrub; rarely seen over water, and avoids forests. Overall not as heavy looking as the Steppe Eagle, and never has a rich brown color tone. 

A small, chunky, large-billed, distinctively marked waxbill. The gray head is speckled with fine white spots. There is sharp contrast between the brown back, the white rump, and the black tail, which is especially obvious in flight. Found locally in both dry and moist savanna and woodland, usually in grassy areas. Usually in flocks. The most common call is a quiet “tsip.”  

Brown hornbill with a white belly and an orange bill. The white corners of the tail are conspicuous in flight. Note the black mask around the eye. Found in woodland, especially those dominated by mopane and Zambezi teak. Usually solitary or in pairs, occasionally small flocks. Call is a long, insistent series of piping notes. Fairly similar to Monteiro’s Hornbill, but lacks white in the wings, and has small white corners to the tail rather than completely white outer tail feathers. Also similar to Crowned Hornbill, but separated by paler overall coloration, paler orange bill without a casque, and lack of white streaks on the head.