Black-billed Woodhoopoe

A very small gregarious species of open habitats including agricultural areas and the edges of marshes; often found in flocks of tens to hundreds. Note the black face and crown, brown wings, and long reddish orange uppertail coverts (concealing black tail) of breeding male. Nonbreeding males and females distinguished from similar Black-winged Bishop by smaller size and bill and told from Yellow-crowned Bishop by buffier coloration and more limited streaking on chest. Song is a rapid jumble of squeaky, twittering, and churring notes. Its calls include a sharp “tsit” and “tzit.”

Male is iridescent green above with a dark belly and maroon and bluish bands across the breast. Female is nondescript, with blurry streaks across the pale yellow underparts. Found in woodland, scrub, and savanna, including semi-desert thornscrub. Most distinctive vocalization is an energetic series of “tyip” notes. Also gives a high-pitched, jumbled song. Very similar to several other sunbird species but distinguished by slightly larger size and longer bill with a thicker base.

Unique and spectacular large dove with a weird shape: fat with a short tail and lumpy head. Male bright green with a yellow belly and very long, even brighter yellow undertail coverts that nearly reach the tip of the tail. Note paler whitish bands on the wings and uppertail. Female mostly a slightly duller green than the male, with a faint echo of the same patterning. Typically found at mid to high levels in tall trees. Note far carrying voice: a prolonged, mournful series of low-pitched hoots, slightly higher-pitched and more drawn out than the song of New Caledonian Imperial-Pigeon.