Black-crowned White-eye

A beautiful, glossy green-and-purple starling. There is a stripe through the eye that sometimes looks black and sometimes deep purple. The eye is reddish-orange. Juveniles are dull and blackish. Found in a wide variety of savanna habitats, from moist broadleaf woodland to dry thorn savanna. Also found in villages, towns, and cultivated areas. Very similar to Lesser and Greater Blue-eared Starlings, but separated by the purple rather than greenish tail and the darker reddish eye. The vocalizations include rising whistles, nasal whines, and long series of chattering notes. 

Fairly common locally in fresh and brackish marshes and wet pastures, where male is often conspicuous, perching atop bushes or wires. Besides his glossy black plumage with yellow bill and eyering, the male often attracts attention by big white wing patches that flash in flight. The very different female is much less noticeable and often keeps to vegetation. Female is overall streaky with a yellowish bill and eyering, and bright rusty wing flashes. Compare with female Yellow-winged Blackbird.

A large, long-winged buzzard which may recall a small eagle in size. Variable plumage with three color morphs. All have obvious dark carpal patches at the wrist of the wing. Juveniles lack the adult’s prominent black trailing edge to the wings. Often hunts from a prominent perch, or sits on the ground and scans for prey. A species of open steppe and desert country, sometimes in more wooded areas but always near big open spaces. Compare with similar Common and Upland Buzzards, as well as Rough-legged Hawk; note long-winged structure, size, and wings held in “V” in soaring flight.