Blacksmith Lapwing

Chunky, cryptic, short-legged, long-billed shorebird. In flight, shows much white on the outer tail and underwing. Found in thickly vegetated wetlands. Restricted to middle and high elevations across the majority of its range. Most often seen when it flushes explosively, often giving a rough “shrik” call. Display vocalization is a long accelerating series of “kik” notes, followed by a hollow booming made by the outer tail in flight display. Similar to Common Snipe, but darker and with much white in the outer tail. Also easily confused with the uncommon Great Snipe, but African is paler, lacks strong bars on the wing, and has a white rather than dark underwing.

A large, long-tailed bird of lowland, open wooded areas, including mangroves. All black with red eyes and iridescence on the wings, back and tail. Some spotted iridescence on neck and chest. It has quite long-necked appearance. Co-occurs with Jobi and Trumpet Manucodes, but Glossy is larger and longer-tailed. Voice, an unpleasant, high-pitch whistle sounding a bit like microphone distortion. Sings from a high, open perch.

Brightly colored thrush of well-shaded undergrowth in a variety of habitats, from deep hilly forests to city parks and gardens. Male has clean pale gray upperparts and a bright orange belly, female and immature male replace gray with brown and have dark streaking on the throat and chest. Forages loudly in the undergrowth, usually singly or in pairs; tends not to associate with other thrush species. Often approachable.