Bower's Shrikethrush

A large, long-billed sunbird of forest and forest edge, sometimes venturing into gardens and farms. Both sexes have a distinctive long and mostly straight bill with a noticeable droop towards the tip. Males are iridescent green above and dark below with a green throat, a red-and-purple chest, and a maroon belly. Females are light brown above with a subtle eye-line, and pale with fine brown streaking below. Most likely to be confused with Splendid Sunbird, but look for the male’s green throat and maroon rather than red belly, and the female’s finely streaked underparts. Call is a descending whistled “tiuw.” The song is a complex jumble of whistled notes, not unlike that of other sunbirds.   

A small waxbill that is matte brown above and red below with a red bill and pale undertail. There are diagnostic pale bars along the sides of the breast, but these can be difficult to see clearly. Note that sexes are similar, unlike in some other firefinches. Found in a wide variety of open habitats, including broadleaf woodland, thickets, savanna, cultivated areas, and scrub, usually in pairs or small groups. Similar to Red-billed Firefinch, but separated by the darker brown markings on the head and the bars along the sides of the breast. Further separated from other firefinches by the pale rather than black undertail. The common call is a low “chip” and the song is a rapid twittering warble. 

Elegant wader with a long fine bill and long reddish legs (dark on breeding adults). Striking breeding plumage dark overall. Nonbreeding plumage is paler and grayer than smaller and chunkier Common Redshank. In flight often appears dark overall with narrow white oval up middle of back. Breeds in arctic bogs and swamps; migrants occur in varied wetland habitats. Usually seen as singles or small groups, though will sometimes congregate in large flocks, especially on wintering grounds. Feeds mainly by wading in fairly deep water, probing and picking with its bill, at times swimming.