Casqued Cacique

Medium-sized, beautifully-patterned francolin. Complex head pattern is distinctive. Shows large rufous patches in the wings in flight. Found on the ground in areas with thick grass, including pure grassland, cultivation, and open savanna. Shy and retiring. Loud call is a dry, repeated “tek-tek-tek-chital-chew”. Similar to several other francolin species, which also show rufous in the wing. Separated by a careful look at the complex head pattern: a rufous neck stripe, white throat, and black-and-white barring. Lacks the black necklace of most similar francolins.

Small bird of open mallee and heathland in southwestern Australia and southern South Australia. Medium gray-brown above, whitish below, with distinct pale supercilium, red-brown rump, large white spot in the primaries (surrounded by black), dark chest streaking, and long, cocked tail. Forages quietly on the ground. Compare Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, which has a smaller pale wing spot, no black in wing, and paler legs. Despite the name, this species is not particularly shy.

An unusual small, chunky flycatcher. At a distance, looks entirely dark, but a good view reveals a slightly paler throat and a dark undertail with paler fringes. Has long, pointed wings and looks a bit like a swallow in flight. Found in rainforest and gallery forest, where it perches up on dead trees, especially at the forest edge and around clearings. Often in small groups. Similar to Sooty Flycatcher, but there is little or no overlap in range, and Ussher’s is separated by its darker underparts. Easily separated from other flycatchers by very dark plumage and unusual habits. Not very vocal, but does give a quiet, squeaky song.