Piura Chat-Tyrant

A chunky-billed brown finch with an electric-red rump, red tail, and red hood that extends from the throat to the nape; the hood of the male is larger than the female’s and extends down the flanks. Juvenile is duller than the adult. A secretive and uncommon resident restricted to Upper Guinea, found in pairs in swamp forest, scrub near creeks, and thickets near water in primary and secondary forest; also sometimes in cultivation. Song is a variable series of buzzes and whistles, and call is a strident “tsut…tsut.” Male Black-bellied Seedcracker differs from Crimson by having a black (not brown) back and belly; females and juveniles are almost identical but only overlap in eastern Ivory Coast. 

Fairly small, slim cuckooshrike in which males and females are strikingly different. Males have dark gray upperparts, pale gray underparts, and black wings and tail. Females have brown upperparts, a whitish throat, and otherwise rufous underparts. Both sexes have pale marks at the tip of the tail. The juvenile is a drastically different-looking brownish bird with strong wing bars and unmarked buff underparts. Rare and local in remnant patches of humid forest on the island of Mauritius. The song is a quick, slightly accelerating series of nasal whistles. Within its small range, most similar to Mauritius Bulbul, but easily separated by many details, including the lack of an orange bill. 

A large, long-winged buzzard which may recall a small eagle in size. Variable plumage with three color morphs. All have obvious dark carpal patches at the wrist of the wing. Juveniles lack the adult’s prominent black trailing edge to the wings. Often hunts from a prominent perch, or sits on the ground and scans for prey. A species of open steppe and desert country, sometimes in more wooded areas but always near big open spaces. Compare with similar Common and Upland Buzzards, as well as Rough-legged Hawk; note long-winged structure, size, and wings held in “V” in soaring flight.