Black-faced Apalis

A small, compact lark with a boldly marked face and a small, pink conical bill. Plumage varies across its range from tawny-brown in the southeast to creamy-gray in the northwest. Pairs and small groups are resident in moist eastern grassland and are partially nomadic in grassy sectors of the Karoo and Kalahari. The species forages for seed on the ground. Calls include a simple repeated trilling “trrrt-trrt-trrt-trrt.” The Pink-billed Lark has plain unstreaked flanks, while the very similar Botha’s Lark has diffuse streaking on the flanks.

Large bicolored waterbird. Both sexes are iridescent purplish-green above with a white or buffy breast. Males have a large black lump on the bill, gray flanks and whitish belly, whereas females have a plain bill and gray flanks. Note all dark wings. Occurs throughout much of Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. Found in freshwater rivers, lakes, and marshes where it is usually uncommon. Normally silent.

A small, dark brown bird with a contrastingly black-and-white face. The black cheeks are sandwiched between a long, thick white eyebrow and a white throat. Extremely difficult to see as it moves quickly through the dense undergrowth in evergreen forests. Almost always seen in mixed-species foraging flocks. Calls include sharp whistles and hard “tic” sounds delivered in succession.