Sunda Coucal

A martin-like swallow with a bicolored plumage pattern of steel-blue upperparts and pale underparts. Pairs or small groups flit low over grassland, scrub, farmland, and open woodland, often near water. It is a migrant to the southern parts of South Africa, but it is resident elsewhere, with some poorly understood movements. The Pearl-breasted Swallow differs from House Martin and Gray-rumped Swallow by having a dark (not pale) rump and pale (not dark) underwings.

A slow-moving and occasionally tail-twitching species of woodland thickets and dense cover; often found in mixed-species flocks. Note its black face and crown that is boldly marked with white spots and contrasts sharply with an entirely white throat. The similar Gray-crowned Palm-Tanager has a gray crown and a gray center to the throat. Vocalizations include a high thin “tseeoo” and “ts” as well as a nasal “byu.”

A massive, chunky, black, white, and chestnut kingfisher with a huge dagger-like black bill and a small crest. Sexes differ in the location of chestnut plumage: upper breast on the male, belly and underwings on the female. Pairs patrol freshwater rivers, lakes and swamps, and saltwater estuaries, mangroves and coastlines, hunting for fish, crabs, frogs and invertebrates. Draws attention to itself with raucous harsh and rapidly repeated “kek” and “kakh” calls.