Dusky Parrot

An active little bird with a bright yellow belly and a pale-tipped fan-like tail. Most common in foothill and submontane broadleaf forests, where it forages energetically and acrobatically in the middle and lower levels, often with fulvettas, warblers, and other small passerines in mixed-species foraging flocks. Very similar in shape to fantails but much smaller, and actually more closely related to tits. Song is a series of high “tsit” notes interspersed with twitters and trills. Call is often repeated at length, akin to a song, but much simpler, a series of high “tsip” notes.

A large gray-and-brown francolin with bare red skin on the throat and around the eyes. Also note the red bill, the dark gray legs, and the chestnut, buff, and black markings along the sides of the belly. Pale patches in the outer wings are conspicuous in flight. Found in fairly dry thorn savanna, woodland, and thickets, usually in pairs or small groups. Similar to Red-necked Francolin, but there is little overlap in range, and separated by the brown legs and many plumage details. Also similar to Yellow-necked Francolin, but easily separated by the red or sometimes orange (rather than yellow) throat. The call is a fading series of grating “kreaaak” notes. 

Breeding male is rich yellow with darker orange patches on the breast and the rear part of the crown. The female is dark on the back and buffy yellowish below with a pale base to the bill. Both sexes show a dark eye. Breeds in and around reedbeds, but ranges into surrounding savanna and woodland. Very similar to Golden Palm Weaver, but there is no overlap in range. Also similar to Holub’s and African Golden-Weavers, but usually separated by the black eyes. Females can be confusing, but almost always associate with the more distinctive males. The calls include a dry rattling that is combined with typical weaver “radio static” in the song.