Croaking Cisticola
Cisticola natalensis
Chunky, large-billed, streak-backed cisticola. Brown overall, without bright rufous in the plumage. Males are much larger than females. Found in grassland and savanna with scattered bushes. Song varies geographically but always consists of a rising note with a croaking quality. Larger than Stout Cisticola and lacks a bright rufous crown. Distinguished from most other cisticolas by large size and heavy bill. As with all cisticolas, habitat and voice are important cues in identification.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cisticola natalensis
- Authority
- (Smith, A, 1843)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Genus
- Cisticola
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Western Bearded-Greenbul
Criniger barbatus
A big, chunky, relatively colorful rainforest greenbul. Mostly olive-green, with a reddish tail and a mostly gray head. The throat feathers are long and often puffed out; they are rich yellow in most of the range, but pale yellow in Nigeria. Found in the understory and at middle levels of rainforest and gallery forest. Usually in small, noisy groups that often join mixed flocks. Similar to Yellow-bearded Greenbul, but larger, with a puffier throat and some gray in the plumage. Similar to Red-tailed Greenbul, but larger, and never shows a pure white throat. Somewhat similar to Icterine Greenbul, but larger, and much darker on the breast and belly. The loud and distinctive call is a rising, two-part “truwa-treeeaa.”

Whistling Green-Pigeon
Treron formosae
A variable green-pigeon of subtropical and tropical lowland broadleaf evergreen forests. Ryukyu subspecies readily approachable, sometimes found in parks and gardens; Taiwan subspecies more timid. Ryukyu and Taiwan subspecies sometimes considered separate species, as Taiwan birds are much smaller and have a rufous cap. Similar to White-bellied Green-Pigeon, but feathers around the legs never white, face less yellowish, and white edges of undertail coverts narrower. Song a low, whistling "poo-aa-poooo", rising and trilling at end, recalling a bamboo flute.

Claret-breasted Fruit-Dove
Ptilinopus viridis
A small green dove with a diagnostic burgundy breast patch, a gray head, a pale gray shoulder patch, and spots on the wings. Some females lack the unique vinous breast patch. Duller juveniles show some yellow fringing on the wings. Typically found singly or in pairs in lowland and hill forest as well as in plantations and some wooded patches. Gray shoulder patch and wing spots of female separates her from female White-breasted Fruit-Dove. Cooing song varies geographically; on mainland New Guinea it is a two-noted “coop-coOW.”
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