Lorentz's Whistler

More of a soft blush than a burning flame, the red patch on the male’s face is nonetheless unique. The female lacks the red patch, but is still distinctive in her size, small sharp bill, and pale wingbars. Both sexes are yellow above and pale gray below, with the male being more predominantly yellow than the female. Found in montane broadleaf forest at middle to high elevations, sometimes mixed in with other species; some populations descend to lower foothills and lowlands in the winter. Song is an undulating series of twitters, chips, and trills; also twitters and trills when flocking.

Distinctive gamebird of farmland, grassy fields, and open heathland. Seen mainly as pairs and small groups, often along the edges of fields. Plumage is ornate and handsome, with a red bill, white throat, black streaked necklace, boldly barred flanks, and buffy belly. Other similar species (such as Chukar) do not overlap in native range, but can escape from collections or be introduced for hunting; all lack the diagnostic black-streaked necklace of Red-legged. Song is a dry, rasping “wa-cha-cha-wa-cha-cha” or “wi’ch-ch’ch.”

A localized woodland weaver that has a dusky-olive head and upperparts, and golden-yellow underparts. Brighter male has a golden-yellow crown and more extensive rusty breast patch. Juvenile is much paler. Restricted to mature Miombo woodland where ‘Old Man’s Beard’ Usnea lichen is abundant. Singles and pairs sometimes join mixed-species flocks and forage secretively for insects by creeping along branches like a nuthatch or creeper; does not nest colonially. Not very vocal, but occasionally calls a series of soft high-pitched buzzing notes ‘tzee-twa-twa’.