Karamoja Apalis

Plain brown flycatcher with a large-eyed appearance. Note bright white eyering and unmarked throat and underparts. Appears shorter- and plainer-winged than other similar brownish flycatchers. Favors broadleaf forests; also found in more open habitats on migration and wintering grounds. Sallies from exposed perches; cocks tail and flicks wings when perched. Song comprises high buzzy trilling and whistles. Calls include dry rattling and chittering.

Large, dark sparrow with extensive geographic variation. Larger than Song Sparrow, and generally darker with thicker streaking. Four groups of subspecies: Red (only subspecies found in eastern U.S., but breeds to Alaska), Slate-colored (Rockies), Sooty (Pacific Northwest), Thick-billed (California). Habitat varies across range, but generally breeds in forests with thick understory, often with plenty of conifers. In winter, tends to occur in dense thickets. Forages mainly on the ground in search of seeds. Visits feeders.

A small but stout woodland species often found hovering beneath the canopy while snapping up insects or fruit. Note the male’s all blackish plumage. The only similar bird in its range is the Jamaican Blackbird, but the Jamaican Blackbird has a slimmer bill and it is typically found probing in vegetation rather than flycatching like the becard. Females and immatures are dark brown above and pale below, often with buff on throat. Females and immatures could be mistaken for Stolid, Sad, or Rufous-tailed Flycatchers, however, these flycatchers have grayish (not buff) throats and yellowish on the belly that female and immature becards lack. Song is a staccato squeaky twitter typically followed by a drawn out “tweeeee.” Call is a sharp but squeaky “peep.”