Black-faced Laughingthrush

A striking gray, yellow, and green bushshrike with a dark eye, an orange chest, and a distinctive yellow forehead and short eyebrow. The juvenile lacks an eyebrow. Singles and pairs occasionally join mixed-species flocks in thornveld and broadleaf woodland, riparian forest, and thickets. The species creeps slowly through the mid-canopy of trees, hunting insects and small vertebrates, and is often first detected by its loud ringing “what-to-tooo-dooo” song and scolding “skeeeeet” calls and clicks. The larger Gray-headed Bushshrike differs from Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike by having a more robust bill, a pale-yellow eye, and no eyebrows.

This plump little forest bird has a large head and short tail. Not striking, but distinctive in limited range. Male grayer, female browner. Look for small white spots on wing and faint streaks on throat and chest. Both sexes have streaked crown, although male is gray and female is rufous. Often seen following a mixed-species flock; sticks to the lower levels in the forest.

All-black songbird with decurved bill and long, cleft tail that curves up at the end. Adult has bright red eye, young birds dark-eyed. Plumage shows metallic iridescence in optimal light. Metallic Starling has finer bill, tapered tail. Inhabits great variety of habitats, where it chases insects mercilessly. Perches prominently, delivering harsh, squawking calls, often mimicking other species such as butcherbirds and kingfishers.