Kurdish Wheatear

Small gray flycatcher with a simple, bold facial pattern. Has a brownish gray body with a black eyeline and crown and a white eyebrow; usually has very faint streaking through the face and breast. Looks big-headed and usually perches upright. Found around forest edges at high elevations, especially near the treeline and around patches of bamboo; often forages in groups and frequently associates with mixed-species flocks. Listen for its lisping high song and stuttered “peep” call notes.

Chunky, short-legged heron. All white with a black-tipped blue bill and bright red legs in breeding plumage. Dark brown with white wings and belly in non-breeding plumage. Found in a variety of freshwater wetlands, though generally rare. Distinctive in breeding plumage, but easily confused with Squacco Heron in non-breeding plumage, when Malagasy Pond-Heron can be carefully distinguished by the much darker brown color on most of the body, which contrasts sharply with the white belly and wing.

A medium-large, highly variable eagle that can range in overall color from whitish or creamy dull rufous to grayish-brown, and rarely dark brown. It has a moderately long gape line that stops at the center of the eye and slit-shaped nostrils. Legs are short and heavily feathered, with baggy “trousers.” Juveniles are generally paler than adults, while older immatures can have a dark hood and pale body. Mostly a bird of plains and open scrub; rarely seen over water, and avoids forests. Overall not as heavy looking as the Steppe Eagle, and never has a rich brown color tone.