Somali Starling

A small bird of grasslands from the lowlands to mid-mountains in southeast New Guinea. Whitish to pale gray head, dark gray-brown back, pale gray chest, and black belly. Races differ. Lowland populations have a darker back with orange tail and rump. Mountain populations have yellow rump and tail. The adult is distinctive in range. Juvenile is similar to juvenile Chestnut-breasted Munia, but Gray-headed Munia has a paler head and darker bill. Call, soft tweeting notes.

Uncommon within restricted range of the Magdalena Valley of central Colombia, from around 200 to 1,000 m. Occurs in open woodlands. Males are dark steely-blue above and rich yellow below, with a yellow forecrown. Note entirely dark throat and dark underside of tail. Female is dull grayish olive above and yellow below. Note yellow forecrown on female. Could be confused with Orange-bellied Euphonia; male Orange-bellied has white underside of tail and females are grayer below.

Powerfully-built forest-dwelling hawk, scarce across wide range. Adults are distinctive if seen well: bulky and broad-winged, gray above and whitish below with dense barring, prominent pale eyebrow, and orange eye. Immature very similar to Eurasian Sparrowhawk but larger and more powerful, with a more prominent white eyebrow, heavier streaking below (Eurasian Sparrowhawk barred below), and typically streaked undertail coverts. In most suburban areas, Sparrowhawk is more likely; goshawk typically requires extensive mature forest. Very aggressive around the nest. Feeds on large prey such as hares and grouse.