Sad Flycatcher

A pretty, intricately marked medium-sized francolin with a brown back, rufous underparts, and a white throat bordered with black spots. The wings show large rufous patches in flight. Found at high elevations in alpine grassland and heath, often in small groups. Similar to Shelley’s Francolin, but found in different habitat at higher elevations, and separated by many details, including the more solidly rufous underparts without heavy black barring on the belly. The vocalizations include a series of “squee-chee” notes, and a squealing call often given in flight.

Retiring, small swimming bird of tropical lowlands. It’s not a grebe and it doesn’t like the sun; instead it favors slow-moving shady streams, mangroves, quiet ponds, and lake edges. Swims with a slight head-jerking motion and flies off low over the water when disturbed or climbs up into low branches and tangles; does not dive. The striped head and neck and stout pointed bill are distinctive. The cheeks are white on the male and orangish on the female.

An aptly named flycatcher of the lower parts of the forest edge and forest clearings. Overall grayish with a white belly, a white throat, a uniform gray chest, a mostly yellow bill, and unique bright yellow legs. Similar to many other African flycatchers, but the yellow feet and bill set it apart. Call is a descending whistled “tzeer,” and song is a series of buzzy “dji-dji-dji-dji!” notes.