Marsh Grassbird

Large gray-brown babbler with piercing yellow eyes. Can be confused with Jungle Babbler, with which it sometimes associates; look for strong dark lores and a darker bill. Favors scrubby areas, forest edge, and open dry forests. Like many other related babblers, typically hops around on the ground in flocks. Chatters persistently; the most common call is a loud, nasal “kaaa-kaaa-kaaa”.

Medium-sized, slim shrike patterned in dark gray, black, and white. The male has completely white underparts, while the female has a rufous flank patch. There are large white slashes across the shoulders. Found along forest edge and in forest clearings, lush woodland, cultivations, and gardens. Usually seen singly or in pairs. The song is a slow, highly varied series of many different types of notes, and can include imitations of other birds. Similar to Northern Fiscal, but has a gray crown and back. Distinguished from other black-masked, gray-backed shrikes by the lack of a white nick on the wing.

This large swallow has rusty-red underparts, a pale buff throat, and a white leading edge to the underwing that is obvious only in flight. It is mostly resident, although it is also a wet season migrant to the north of its range. Pairs prefer wooded savanna, nesting in banks, termite mounds, and often holes in trees, particularly baobabs. The Mosque Swallow may be confused with the juvenile Rufous-chested Swallow, but it lacks the latter species’ dark “ear-flaps” and buffy forward part of the underwing.