Slaty-backed Thrush

A chunky, streak-backed warbler with a rusty head and wings, a ragged rufous tail, and black moustache stripes. It avoids woodland and trees, preferring rank areas with long grass, scrubby edge, and wet heathland (fynbos). It hops and clambers through dense brush and thickets, then flies low on rapidly-beating wings in labored flight to the next bush, immediately diving into cover. But it will also perch on prominent tall shrubs, like proteas, and sing its melodious tinkling jumbled song that starts softly and gets progressively louder. It also has a distinctive flat mewing “meeeeep” call. The Moustached Grass-Warbler is similar to the Cape Grassbird, but it has a plain unstreaked back, a broad black tail, and a pale eye.

Rare flycatcher found in seasonally flooded swamp forest in lowlands east of the Andes. Pale eye, wide bill, buffy throat and breast, gray crown, and lack of facial markings help separate it from similar species such as Gray-crowned Flycatcher. It is typically seen quite high in the trees, but usually not in the forest canopy. Song is a series of emphatic, raspy squeaks.

Small bird with thin pointed bill, uncommon in mulga woodland of arid inland temperate Australia. Brownish gray above, cream-colored below, with dark eye, dark streaking on forecrown, pale lores, pale-tipped dark tail, and chestnut rump, often visible in flight. Usually seen in pairs or singly, foraging low in branches rather than on the ground. Distinguished from juvenile Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (which also has dark eyes) by noting the dark streaks on Slaty-backed’s forehead. Typical calls are thin chatter and a clear, reeling trill.