Black-billed Turaco

Handsome partridge of the southwest Arabian mountains. Mostly pale gray and tan, with chestnut-and-white slashes along the sides, and a black face mask. In flight, shows dark wingtips and chestnut sides to the tail. Found in dry, rocky habitat at middle and high elevations, with a preference for bush areas. The common vocalization, given mainly early and late in the day, is an emphatic series of “chuk-chek-chuk” calls. Also gives clucking calls, especially when flushed. Similar to Arabian Partridge, but distinguished by the black face mask, and when in flight, by the chestnut in the tail.

A slim, long-billed sunbird in which breeding males and females are very different. Breeding males are mostly dark iridescent green with a red band across the underparts. The red band is bordered by narrow yellow stripes in the southern part of the range. Females are plain, with gray-brown upperparts and pale underparts with dark streaking. Found in dry thorn savanna. Similar to Beautiful Sunbird, but breeding males are separated by the less extensive or absent yellow in their belly band, and females by being more streaked below. The common calls are quiet chips and “tip” notes, and the song is a high-pitched jumble typical of sunbirds. 

A mid-sized, chunky, drably colored babbler. Has a white throat and pale gray underparts, often with some darker olive-brown on the breast. Found in the understory of rainforest at low and middle elevations, usually in pairs. Shy and skulking, and rarely seen unless searched for. Similar to other illadopsises, and best located and distinguished by voice. Visually most similar to Puvel’s Illadopsis, but found in different habitat, slightly smaller, and grayer, less buffy, on the underparts. Paler below than Brown or Pale-breasted Illadopsises. Most often detected by distinctive voice: a series of several whistles in an up then down pattern that is weirdly reminiscent of trying to start a car.