Velvet-mantled Drongo

Thrush-sized bird; pale gray overall with black mask. Found in open, dry desert and semidesert areas across Portugal and Spain, into France. Feeds on insects, small reptiles, and birds. Often seen using prominent perches, including power lines and short treetops that offer perfect vantages for shrikes to spot their prey. Carnivorous habits make shrikes unique among passerines. Feeds on rodents and small birds. In flight, watch for white patches in the wings. Like many other shrikes, vocally quite varied and talented, giving a wide range of buzzes, rasps, whistles, warbles, and imitations.

Plain apalis with gray upperparts and white underparts. Very localized and poorly known species of montane forest of the Albertine Rift. Often joins mixed-species flocks. Vocalizations are not well documented, but does give a single, repeated “trrik” note as well as a more two-part “tri-ka” note. Very similar to Gray Apalis, but separated by the paler head which lacks brown tones.

Chunky mid-sized parrot with a green back and breast, a gray head, and a colorful belly that shows some geographical variation from yellow to reddish-orange. Found in all types of savanna, including broadleaf savanna, dry thorn savanna, and human-created savanna in the forest zone. Calls are variable sizzling screeches, often given in flight. Similar to Niam-Niam and Meyer’s Parrots, but separated from both by the yellow-orange belly.