Rufous-bellied Triller

A brightly colored small woodland species often found in pairs or small flocks at fruiting trees. Note the dark partial hood and striking turquoise wings. No other species in its range shares these characters. Song consists of a series of high, thin notes followed by a high-pitched jumbled twitter.

Distinctive, small, short-tailed thrush-like bird. Males are strikingly beautiful with bright blue-gray head, white back patch, and chestnut underparts. Females are reddish-brown and have a scaly appearance, with a tail pattern similar to males. Breeds on rocky mountain slopes and alpine meadows, usually above 1,500 m (5,000 ft). Usually shy but may be obvious when delivering its melodic Eurasian Blackbird-like song in flight.

A nest parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of Purple Grenadiers. As with other whydahs, breeding males are spectacular, whereas non-breeding males and females are drab. Breeding males are mostly black, with golden-buff coloring on the cap, the belly, and the elongated central tail feathers. Non-breeding males and females have a brownish back, a golden-buff head, and a red bill. Found in rather dry savanna and cultivated areas. Non-breeding male and female can be identified by their red bill and their almost unmarked plain buff head. Not very vocal, but does imitate Purple Grenadier, and gives a quick jumble of high-pitched whistled notes.