Samoan Starling

Chunky, medium-sized black-and-white barbet. There is a black triangle on the throat and large spots on the sides of the belly. Found in a variety of habitats including moist woodland and gallery forest. Generally in lusher habitats than other closely related barbets. The two main calls are a slow series of “kwaa” notes and a fast series of nasal “kye” notes. Easily separated from similar barbets by the spotted underparts and pale eye.

Elegant, long-tailed bird with a brownish back, pale underparts, and a black chest band. White outer tail is conspicuous in flight. Found in most open habitats, especially those near water. Feeds by walking along the ground, bobbing its tail constantly. Call is a buzzy “tseeei” that is often doubled. Song is a complex jumble of different repeated notes. Similar to Mountain Wagtail but has brown rather than gray upperparts, and Cape has less white in the wings and tail. Also similar to juvenile African Pied Wagtail but lacks a white panel in the wing.

Tiny wrenlike skulker with a large-headed and short-tailed profile. Brown overall with galaxy-like white spotting across the body and thick brick-red barring on the wings and tail. Difficult to see; almost always detected by its song, a drawn-out series of high chinking notes; responsive to whistled imitations, but very shy regardless and only infrequently breaks cover. Typically found in hilly forests, particularly next to well-shaded small streams and other damp areas.