Violet Turaco

Small, charismatic flycatcher of forest understory. Key field mark is gray head contrasting with white throat and tawny underparts. Found in tall rainforest where it is relatively uncommon and difficult to see well; usually alone or in pairs. Forages from low perches, darting up to scoop insects from undersides of leaves. Slightly larger, chunkier, and plainer-faced than other spadebills. Often first detected by its sharp call note; distinctive song is a rising then falling trill.

A small, sharp-billed warbler-like bird. Note the olive-green back, the yellow throat and undertail, and the ridiculously broad white spectacles around the eyes. Found in the Taita Hills of southeast Kenya, in montane forest, forest edge, exotic tree plantations, and lush gardens and scrub. Usually in hyperactive pairs or flocks. Separated from similar broad-ringed white-eyes by range. Somewhat similar to African Yellow and Pale White-eyes, but found at higher elevations, and eye-ring is much broader. Song is a subdued, chatty sequence of “chew” notes. Calls include a high-pitched rising rattle, chattering notes, and “chew” notes like those from the song. 

A sleek inhabitant of wooded areas that will venture into gardens and parks in search of flowers and fruit; prefers areas with palms. The adult is distinctive with a black back, head, and chest contrasting with a bright yellow to yellow-orange belly, rump, and shoulders. Immatures are yellow-green to yellow-orange, sometimes with a scraggly black beard, but note the bright yellowish shoulders. Female and immature Orchard Orioles are similar, but are smaller, and lack the bright shoulders. Song consists of lilting whistled notes rising up and down in patch. Calls include a whistled “suh-wee-eee, a quick “pwi” or “pwit-pwit,” and a scratchy “weet.”