White-winged Grosbeak

A large weaver with a long, thin pointed bill. The male has a pale eye, and during the breeding season a brownish wash to the face. The female has a brown eye and an olive-brown belly. The species occupies open country, where it often breeds in mixed-species colonies over water or in large isolated trees. The chattering and rasping song is long and complex. The smaller Southern Brown-throated Weaver has a chunkier bill than Cape Weaver; its male has a better defined brown throat and its female has a white belly. African Golden-Weaver has reddish eyes, and Holub’s Golden-Weaver has an unstreaked yellowish back.

Large, bizarre bird of tall rainforest. Unmistakable even when seen briefly, as they often are, flying quickly across roads or rivers. Appears broad-winged and mostly burnt orange with a disproportionately small head. Feeds on fruit in the forest canopy. Far-carrying display call of lekking males is one of the strangest avian sounds, similar to a distant chain saw or cow; males on leks can seem almost oblivious to human observers.

A noisy, gregarious species of middle to high elevation forests where it often forms mixed-species flocks. Typically roosts communally in palm or bamboo thickets. Its brownish back, blackish crown, bright white throat and thickset bill eliminate all other species within range; also note small white spot at base of primaries present on adults. Song is series of sweet two-parted phrases such as “chu-wit, see-you, chu-you.” The common call is a high thin “tsit” or “chit” given singly or in series.