Red-and-green Macaw

A large, chat-like buff-brown flycatcher. Lighter edges to the flight feathers form a pale wing panel. Individuals, pairs, and loosely associated groups sit on shrubs, fences, and telephone wires in arid shrublands and savanna. They drop to the ground, where they look distinctly chat-like, to hunt insects and small vertebrates. They also hawk for food. The plain brown tail and rump differentiates Chat Flycatcher from all chats. The similar Pale Flycatcher is smaller, lacks the paler wing panel, and prefers moist broadleaf woodland.

An entirely deep black crake with bright reddish-orange eye-ring and legs. Bill is yellowish green. Flightless, bold, and curious. No other similar birds occur within its range. Contact call is a nasal “kak” repeated rapidly. Also gives a loud, continuous churring call.

Breeding males are mostly black with a long tail. Varies geographically, with northern birds having a shorter tail and mainly orange shoulder patch, while southern birds have a longer tail and a yellow-and-orange shoulder patch. Females and non-breeding males are streaky and brown, though males retain their colorful shoulder. Breeds in marsh habitats, and uses a variety of open habitats in non-breeding season. Vocalizations include low rasps and twittering and sizzling calls. Northern breeding males similar to Fan-tailed Widowbird, but longer-tailed. Female can be confused with several other species, but is usually identified by association with orange-shouldered males.